Newman's entomologist

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NEWMAN’S: ENTOMOLOGIST.

VOLUME VII.

LONDON:
E. NEWMAN, PRINTER, DEVONSHIRE STREET,

BISHOPSGATE.

THE

ENTOMOLOGIST

CONDUCTED BY

EDWARD NEWMAN.

VOLUME VII.

PSYCHOPSIS MIMICA.

22343

LONDON:
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO., STATIONER’S HALL COURT.

1874.

«“ Observe the Insect Race ordained to keep

* The lazy Sabbath of a half-year’s sleep,
Entombed beneath the filmy web they li,
And wait the influence of a kinder sky.
When vernal sunbeams pierce their dark retreat
The heaving tomb distends with vital heat ;
The full-formed brood, impatient of their cell,
Start from their trance, and burst their silken shell;
Trembling awhile they stand, and scarcely dare
To launch at once upon the untried air.
At length assured, they catch the favouring gale,
And leave their sordid spoils and high in ether sail.”

Mrs. BarBAULD.

‘¢ Even in favour of the mere butterfly-hunter—he who has no higher aim
than that of collecting a picture of Lepidoptera, and is attached to insects solely
by their beauty or singularity—it would not be difficult to say much. Can it be
necessary to declaim on the superiority of a people, amongst whom intellectual
pleasures, however trifling, are preferred to mere animal gratifications? Is it
a thing to be lamented that some of the Spitalfields weavers occupy their
leisure hours in searching for the Adonis butterfly, instead of spending them
in playing at skittles or in an alehouse? Or is there, in truth, anything more
to be wished than that the cutlers of Sheffield were accustomed thus to employ
their Saint Mondays ; and to recreate themselves, after a hard day’s work, by
breathing the pure air of their surrounding hills while in pursuit of this, their
‘untaxed and undisputed game’?”—KirBy AND SPENCE.

D

CONTENTS.

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

~ Adams, C. L. 207
Anderson, Joseph, jun. 22, 161, 164

Baly, Joseph S., F.L.S. 293

Barrett, J. P..71

Bartlett, Henry, 296

Batchelor, T. 81

Bell, Alfred 210

Bennett, A. W., M.A., B.Sce., F.L.S. 135
Bignell, G. C. 185

Birchall, E., F.L.S. 21, 121, 149, 271
Borrer, W., jun. 186

Bradbury, 8. 91

Bright, A. H. 213

Brook, George 292

Brunton, T. 43

Buckton, G.B., F.R.S., F.L.S. 114, 141

Capper, Samuel James 216

Carrington, John T. 205, 206, 228

Clifford, John R. 8. 22, 129, 208, 224,
225, 226, 230 -

Clogg, Stephen 259

Cole, William 14

Cooke, Nicholas 178

Cooke, W. 163

Cope, W. J. 213

Corbin, G. B. 44, 45, 70, 182, 137,
167, 182, 183

Cordeaux, John 161, 203

Crewe, Rey. H. Harpur, M.A. 290, 291

Dale, J. C., F.L.S., the late 290
Dashwood, E. 8. 140

Dawson, George R. 23, 94, 169
Dearnley, F. 163

Doubleday, Henry 87, 112, 115, 260

Edwards, W. 163
Eedle, T. 206
Egles, Rev. EK. H. 91, 178

Fitch, E. A. 24, 45, 140, 293

Fletcher, J. E. 69, 71

Forbes, W. A. 23, 112, 162, 165, 185,
231, 234

Gardner, J. 178

Garlick, Constance 259
Gatcombe, J. 233

Goss, H. 203, 205
Gregson, C. S. 17, 68, 255
Grigg, William H. 179
Grubb, John 91

Gulliver, George 259
Gustard, H. Stafford 203

Hamilton, A. 212

Hamilton, J. 72

Hamlin, C. 259

Harper, W. 218

Harrison, John 163

Harwood, W. H. 129, 288

Herkomer, Mrs. Hubert 73, 98, 145,
170, 198, 217, 241, 265

Hervey, Rev. A. C. 91, 259

Hillman, Thomas 290

Hodges, H. C. 233

er J. B. 90, 175, 178, 205,
23

Jennings, Rev. P. H.
285

229, 230,

Kay, R. 291

vi CONTENTS.

Leconte, John L., M.D. 277
Lilly, J. A. 228

Llewelyn, John T. D., F.L.S. 260
Lockyer, Bernard 138

Lomas, T. 164

Lucas, T. P., M.D. 292

Luff, W. A. 10, 42

Macmillan, W. 140

Maling, W. 89, 225

Marshall, W. C. 209, 213
Mathew, G. F., R.N., F.L.S. 62
May, J. W. 252, 267

McRae, W. 22

Meek, E. G. 19, 165, 177
Mills, Rev. John W. 174
Moncreaff, Henry 93, 130, 182
Mosley, 8. L. 228

Newman, Edward, F.L.S. 24, 49, 53,
70, 88, 93, 97, 105, 119, 125, 140, 184,
211, 212, 2138, 234, 236, 242, 260, 295

Norgate, Frank 69

Oldfield, G. W. 139, 289
Oldham, Charles 228

Parry, G. 16, 289

Paul, Arthur W. 154

Pease, Edward R. 174

Perkins, Anne Steele 20, 210

Peyton, W. 82

Phillips, F. J. 165

Porritt, Geo. T., F.L.S. 90, 109, 110,
175, 180

Potts, J. 162

Poulton, E. B. 176, 177

Prest, Wm. 181

Price, David M. G. 139, 182, 204, 206

Raynor, G. H. 21, 228

Reeks, Henry, F.L.S. 89, 110, 222;
231

Robinson, Henry 204

Robinson-Douglas, W. Douglas 5162,
227

Ruston, A. Harold, 185

Shearwood, Geo. P. 224
Sheldon, Wm. 178

Sims, H. 180

Smith, Frederick 66, 166, 257
South, R. 174

Standish, F. O. 20, 23, 44
Stevens, Samuel, F.L.S. 1738, 204

Talbot, William 15

Tawell, J. A. 189

Thomas, W. 164

Thompson, W. 174

Timms, E. W. 96, 296
Trangmar, F. 164

Tugwell, W. H. 86, 88, 160, 205

Walker, Rev. F. A., M.A., F.L.S. 75,
79, 198
Walker, Francis, the late 4, 12, 25,
36, 46; 54, 71, 74; 75, 92,98; 94:
98, 99, 100, 103, 118, 126, 147,
166, 1938, 195, 196, 207, 208, 218,
219

Weise, Anna 1, 50

Wellman, J. R. 43, 227

Wigan, W. 171, 172, 205, 233

Williams, John 21

Wilson, Owen 13, 113, 168

Wittich, H. 104, 181

Wormald, P. C. 292

Wratislaw, Rev. A. H., M.A. 175

CONTENTS.

vil

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SUBJECTS.

Acanthocinus eedilis 98, 213
Acidalia rubricata—is it a_ single-
brooded species ? 175
Acronycta Alni at Doncaster 162; in
Yorkshire 163; near Doncaster id. ;
at Malvern id.; near Sheffield 178
in the New Forest 186; at Lynd-
hurst 205
3 Leporina 177
Agrotera nemoralis 216
Albipuncta, Lathonia and Leucophea,
in the matter of 16
Anarta Myrtilli 178
Andrena tibialis and Stylops 143
Andricus noduli 99
- quadrilineatus, gall of, in
Essex 140
Ant, hermaphrodite 115; white, bred
at Kew 188
Anthrocera Lonicere 181
Anthocharis Cardamines, variety 70
Anticlea sinuata in Hampshire 44;
near Dorking 164
Ants, foraging 56;
making mad 58; and tiger-beetles
60; winged, swarming of a brood
83; the plague of 233
Apamea unanimis making up in
decayed willow-wood 180
Apaturis Iris in Monmouthshire 203
Aphelopus melaleucus 26
Aphides of Amurland 12; British,
requested 114, 141; a note on 166
Aphides, three notes on 12; no indi-
genous in New Zealand 48
Aphilothrix Corticis 50
= Globuli, a gall-maker new
to Britain 24
Radicis 3, 45
Rhizomatis 51
a serotina 170
Sieboldii 52; in England
93
Aphis-honey 13
Aphis-life in the Fall, yearly close 12
Arctia larva, aquatic 117
» lubricipeda, variety 169
» Menthastri, food of 230

leaf-cutting 57; |

Argynnis Adippe, variety 49
és Lathonia at Broadstairs
233; near Canterbury 288
ir Niobe 88; in Kent 171, 172,
173, 225, 288

; | Asthena Blomeraria at Malvern 163

Attelabidae 284

Bark-galls 50

Bat, parasites of 215

Bees, humble, wanted for New Zea-
land 47; fertilizing gentians 113;
and wasps, economy 141; ferti-
lizing flowers 184; honey 292

Beetle, timber-boring 187; epizoic
293

| Belt, Thomas, F.G.S., ‘The Natu-
ralist in Nicaragua’ 56

Belytide 30

Betularia, buff variety 164

| Bethylide 34

Biorhiza aptera 3; on roots of Deo-
dars 47

Blennocampa Cerasi 236

Blepharicide 104

Bluebottles on leaves 294

Boarmia larva, ichneumonideous para-
site on 91

Beus seminulum 6

Bombus Lucorum 251

Bombyx with aquatic larva 94

Botys Terrealis bred 178

Brachycentrus subnubilus bred 47;
on the common comfrey 186

British Bee-keepers’ Association 192

Bud-galls 145

Butterflies, migrating 60; ‘in New-
foundland at ‘Christmas 89; migra-
tion of 110, 161; at Dry Drayton
198, 224

|

Cabinets, insect, metal drawers for
13

| Captures of Hymenoptera near Nor-

wich 67; at Little Hampton id.; in
the Island of Anglesea 68; in the

Vili

New Forest 188; in Sutherland-
shire 207; at or near Eastbourne
during the latter part of July 224
Carabus nitens in the New Forest 44
Cassida vittata 118
Catocala Fraxini at Folkestone 228;
near Canterbury 289
Ceraphronidex 28
Cetonia aurata 44
Chauliodus cherophylellus bred id.
Chelogynus dorsalis 27
Chesias obliquaria 178
Cheerocampa Nerii near Lewes 290
Cidaria picata double-brooded in con-
finement 230; life-history id.
Cirrhedia xerampelina near Llan-
gollen 20
Clostera, hybrid specimen 47
Cnethocampa pityocampa said to occur
in Kent 81, 82; and another, as
observed at Nice 104; larve 181
Coffee-borer of Natal 188
Coleoptera, Scotch 215; Rhyncho-
phorous, classification of 277
Collection, Olivierian 95
Coluocera Atte 115
Congregation of Psen 47
Crocallis elinguaria 285
Crotch, George Robert, death of 236
Crymodes exulis again taken 178
Cryptocephalus bipustulatus 112
supposed new 23
Cynips ‘argentea 194
» cerricola 73
» conglomerata 266, 293
» conifica 170
» Hartigi 145
» hungarica 217
» Kollari 241
Lignicola 252, 265, 293; addi-
tional parasites 252
» tinctoria 218
» Truncicola 146

Dasycampa rubiginea at Christchurch
22

Dasypolia Templi 113

Deane, Henry, death of 119

Death-watch, supposed 140

Deilephila Euphorbie at Harwich 46

Deiopeia pulchella in Cornwall 188,
259; in Sussex 204; in Hampshire
259, 290; near Christchurch 259;

CONTENTS.

near Hastings id. ; at Brighton id. ;
near Lewes 290
Diantheecia albimacula bred; descrip-
tion of the larva 130; near Folke-
stone 165; and larve 177
capsincola, is it double-
brooded? 228
aa compta 19
5 conspersa and D. compta
17
Diapride 29
Dicondylus pedestris 27
Diptera, Amurland European 103;
congeries of 165
Dipterous insect, ash-leaves affected
by 215
Dor-beetle at work 132, 182
Dryinide 34
Dryocosmus cerriphilus 75
Dryophanta macroptera 98

East Sussex, a few days in 160
Ecitons 56
Embolemidez 33
Embolemus Ruddii 25
Emmelesia unifasciata 260; at Chel-
tenham 209
Entomological pins 71
Entomological Society, extracts from
Proceedings 46, 94, 115, 143, 186,
214
Epunda lutulenta at West Wickham
43; eggs 286
. nigra at Sherwood Forest 228
Epyris niger 28 ;
Erastria fuscula, food-plant 185
55 venustula at Horsham, Sus-
sex 206
Eremobia ochroleuca at Christchurch
22
Eriogaster lanestris five winters in
the pupa state 91
Eupisteria heparata, description of
the larva 175
Eupithecia consignata 164
> innotata, note on 68; and
E. egenaria 87, 115; food-plant 291
ne Knautiata 255; of Greg-
son = HE. minutata of Hiibner 290
x3 new to Science, with notes
on its life-history 255
“6 plumbeolata 205
3 pygmeata 231

CONTENTS.

Eupithecia valerianata 231
Euryporus picipes 118

Field Naturalists’ Society 181

Flies, two-winged, notes on the wing-
bones 36, 100, 126, 147, 196, 219

Food of Arctia Menthastri 230

Food-plant of Erastria fuscula 185 ;
new(?) for Melita Artemis 203;
of Orgyia gonostigma 204, 226, 227;
of Eupithecia innotata 291

Geometer larve eating oak-galls 165;
correction 234

Glow-worms, colonizing 183

Goat-moth larva underground 125

Gordius aquaticus 212

Gortyna flavago and its house-
holding 121; at Horsham in Octo-
ber 139

Gryon misellus 6

Haggerston Entomological Society
236, 296

Halonota Grandevana at Hartlepool
90, 178

Haltica erata 214

Haplogastra 283

Heloride 33

Hepialus Velleda at Horsham, Sussex
204

Hive-bees, black 215

Honey-bees 292

Hornet, death through the sting of
209, 231

Hornets, do they ever build in the
ground? 257

Humble-bees wanted for New Zealand
47; fertilizing gentians 113

Hybrid specimen of Clostera 47

Hylurgus piniperda, testaceous speci-
men 91

Hymenoptera reposing 45; captures
in 1873, 66; nest-building 70

Insect congeries 14, 165; develop-
ment, is heat the chief agent in?
167; Dipterous, ash-leaves affected
by 215

Insects, certaiin, emerge from the
pupa by hydraulic pressure 15;
taken at Glenarm 43; oak-leaf 92;
photographs of, taken with camera
obscura 94; in limestone caves 95;

1x

organs of hearing in 113; injurious
to wheat 115; to coffee-trees 118;
Spitzbergen id.; pollen-eating 135 ;
destructive to coffee plantations
144; Netherland 149, 271; names
of 185; peat 210

Labeo vitripennis 26

Larva of Zygena Trifolii, description
90; Bombyx with aquatic 94;
Arctia, aquatic 117; goat-moth,
underground 125; of Dianthecia
albimacula, description 180; of
Eupisteria heparata, description
175; of Notodonta Carmelita, de-
seription of varieties 176; Lepi-
dopterous, walnut eaten by 214;
—— Turkey carpet eaten by
215

Larve, Geometer, eating oak-galls
165, 234; required for figuring
168; of Dianthcecia albimacula
177; hairy, on the black currant
181; rearing in earthenware pots
208; of Saturnia Carpini, do they
hybernate? 227, 289

Lathonia, Leucopha and Albipuncta,
in the matter of 16

Lepidoptera, cause of shrivelling of
wings 13; forwarded to Edward
Newman by G. F. Mathew, Esq.,R.N.
62; controlling sex in 69; certain,
mode of oviposition 285; contribu-
tion to the history 291

Leucania albipuncta at Folkestone
228

Leucophasia Sinapis ovipositing 175

Ligdia adustata, life-history 229

Lime-galls 45

Limenitis Sibylla at Hendon 174

Linnean Society of London, extract
from Proceedings 141

Liparis auriflua and L. chrysorrhea
22, 129

Locusts devouring woollen materials
and leather 118; a railway train
impeded by 166

Longicorn destructive to coffee planta-
tions at Natal 95

Lycena Argiolus oyipositing 292

Macherium maritimum 207, 215
Macrogaster Arundinis, description of
the larva 21

a2

oi CONTENTS.

Macro-Lepidoptera taken in Alderney
10; additions to the list 42; of
Liibeck 154

Mantid, a living, exhibited 188

Megastigmus, note on 71

Melanagria Galathea in Lincolnshire
203

Melanippe fluctuata 286

Melita Artemis 24; new (?)food-
plant for 203

Microgaster in Brazil 207

Miselia Oxyacanthee 287

Moth, Yucca 214

Moths, names of 182

Mycetophilide 103

Nematus latipes 252

Newcastle-on-Tyne Entomological So-
ciety 72

Night-flyer, gold-cloth 122

Noctua glareosa at Sherwood Forest
228

», sobrina in Rannoch 205; cor-

rection 228

Nola albulalis, &c.,in North Kent 180
» centonalis at Sittingbourne 205

Nomenclature, zoological 119

Notodonta Carmelita (read N. eame-
lina), description of varieties of the
larva 176

Oak-galls, descriptions 1, 50, 73, 98,
145, 170, 193, 217, 241; Geometer
larve eating 165; correction 234,
265

Oak-leaf insects 92

(Edipoda Germanica, red and blue
varieties 79

Ginistis quadra 185

Olivierian collection 95

Oniscigaster Wakefieldi 117

Ophiodes Lunaris near Brighton 164

Orchids, pollen masses 234

Orgyia gonostigma, food-plant 204,

226, 227

Ornithomyia avicularia 212

Orthoptera, musical 117

Orthosia litura 287

Owen, Alfred, death of 216

Oxyura, notes on 4, 25

Pachnobia alpina from Bremar, &c.
46; in Rannoch 206; correction
228

Parasite, ichneumonideous, on a Bo-
armia larva 91

Parasites 137; of a bat 215; of Cynips
Lignicola, additional 252

Parasitism, Goureau’s observations
on 93

Phibalapteryx vitalbata 286

Phigalia pilosaria 91

Phlogophora meticulosa 287

Phycis Dayisellus 47, 112; economy
132

Phylloxera Quercus 208

Pieris Napi 162
», Rape, variety 140, 162

Pins, entomological 71

Platypsylla Castoris 294

Platypteryx Sicula near — Bristol
179

Plusia interrogationis near Driffield
23; read P. Pulchrina 94

Polia flayocincta abundant at Hud-
dersfield 292

Pollen-eating insects 135

Polydrusus sericeus 112

Potato-beetle, Colorado 116

Potato-bug, Colorado 105; artificial
remedies 106, 107, 108, 109; sup-
posed 183 :

Proctotrupide 33

Prosacantha varicornis 6

Psen, congregation of 47

Ptilophora plumigera 22

Pupa, certain insects emerge from by
hydraulic pressure 15

Pyrarga Egeria, &c. 129, 161

Rhinomaceride 284

Rhopalocera, Continental, geographi-
cal distribution 75 -

Rhynchitide 284, 285

Root-galls 2

Rose-beetle 44

Rose-galls 94, 113

Saturnia Carpini—is it ever double-
brooded? 1389, 162; do the larve
hybernate? 227, 289

Satyrus Semele, tenacity of life in a
specimen 23

Sawflies, life-histories 252, 267

Scelionidee 9

Scotosia certata 140

Selandria annulipes 267

Smerinthi, hybridizing 21

CONTENTS.

Smerinthus ocellatus emerging in
September 233

Solenobia, supposed albino 186

South London Entomological Society
24, 48, 71, 192

Species, British, alias Continental
20

Sphinx Convolvuli at Christchurch
22; at Maidenhead 218
Sy Pinastri at Harwich 46
Spider, mimicry in 61
Spiders 59
Sterrha sacraria near Neath 260
Syntomis Phegea as a British insect
88 :

Tniocampa opima, &e., hints on
breeding 86; breeding 110
Tapinostola Bondii at Lyme Regis
205, 292
Teleas clavicornis 6
Telenomus brachialis 4
“# Laricis 5
as Othus id.
‘The Naturalist in Nicaragua’ 56
Thecla Pruni in Buckinghamshire
174
s, Quercus with an orange spot
9

» Rubi, variety 215
» W-album on the flowers of the
lime tree 174
Thorn, bull’s-horn 61
Thoron fornicatus 7
Tiger-beetles and ants 60
Tortrix cerasana and T. ribeana 112
Trichiura Crategi 228

Trigonaspis megaptera 193
Tryphena fimbria 286

Vanessa Antiopa near Newcastle 225
i Polychloros in Northumber-
land 89; at Westbury-on-Trym 174
Varieties, red and blue, of Gidipoda
Germanica 79; of the larva of Noto-
_ donta Carmelita, description 176
Variety of Argynnis Adippe 49; of
Anthocharis Cardamines 70; of
Meliteea Selene ? 97; of Pieris Rape
140, 162; of Pieris Napi 162; buff,
of Betularia 164; of Arctia lubrici-
peda 169; of Thecla Rubi 215

Walker, Francis, death of 260

Wasps, our common 222; and bees,
economy 141

West London Entomological Society
96, 296 ;

Wing-bones of the two-winged flies
36, 100, 126, 147, 196, 219

Wings of Lepidoptera, cause of
shrivelling 13

Xanthia aurago near Llangollen 20, 21
Xenomerus Ergenna 7
Xylina conformis near Neath 260

Yucca moth 214

Zeuzera Aisculi 139
Zoological nomenclature 119
Zygena Lonicere, breeding 109
» Trifolii, description of the
larva 90

*xc It is intended in future to publish the Alphabetical Lists of
Contributors and Subjects annually, instead of biennially
as heretofore.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

No. 125.] JANUARY, MDCOCCLXXIV. [Price 6d,

Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s
' Die Mitteleuropaischen Hichengallen.? By Miss ANNA
WEISE.

[Mr. Walker has most kindly consented to add, under each
description, such remarks on the parasites of the gall-maker,
or the inquilines of the gall, as may have come under his own
notice; these will be accompanied by any observations that
may tend to illustrate the subject and render it more complete,
such additions being always signed with his name. I may
also say that in the course of this translation it may frequently
be convenient to intersperse, in the form of footnote or other-
wise, certain allusions to, or illustrations of, a theory of my
own, namely, that under no circumstances are these oak-galls
new or independent parts or organs of the oak; that when we
see an object, such as an oak-apple, which we have been
taught to suppose a new part or organ, additional to the
stems, leaves, buds, flowers, stipules, hairs, &c., described by
botanists, we are not to conclude it is thus new or additional,
but rather to regard it as a form or phase of one of these,
caused by the presence or by the prior action of an insect, in
some manner or by some process not yet ascertained, and
concerning which it would be useless for an entomologist to
speculate, seeing it is rather the province of the chemist to
conduct such researches. This theory, if so it may be called
(perhaps hypothesis were the better word), has not been
generally accepted, but on the contrary, has been rigorously
and most ably controverted by naturalists who have given
great attention to the subject of oak-galls: among others, I
may mention -Mr. Peter Inchbald, whose arguments in the
‘Field’ newspaper cannot fail to interest-every entomologist,
although they were subsequently disputed by Mr. Parfitt, of
Exeter, in the same newspaper. The discussion in this instance
was confined to the psewdo-balant, or false acorns, familiarly

VOL, VII. B

2 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

known as Devonshire or woody galls of the oak; but the
hypothesis comprehends all known galls. On the other hand,
Mr. W. F. Bassett, of Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S., has
concluded that certain American galls, the development of
which he had watched from the earliest stage, “‘ were only a
modified leaf-stem and blade, and that the tuft of long woolly
hairs which terminates the cell is only the enormous develop-
ment of the leaf’s pubescence.” (See Entom. vi. 552.) The
late lamented Mr. J. B. Walsh opposed this idea, and there
never has been an entomologist whose opinion is entitled to
greater respect. Therefore, although fully convinced of the
soundness of my position, I am very desirous it should receive
the most searching investigation. These additions will always
be signed with my own name.—Edward Newman. |

J. RootT-GALLs.

The two kinds of root-galls with which we are acquainted,
being invariably covered with earth, we rarely enjoy the
opportunity of examining them.—G. L. Mayr.

Fig. 1.—ApninoTarix Rapicts.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 3

Aphilothrix Radicis—The gall produced by this species
is found on the roots of old oak-trees, near their junction
with the trunk, and is generally sparingly covered with earth:
in form it is almost spherical, but the surface is irregular,
and not unlike that of a potato; in size the specimens differ
greatly, some being as small as a walnut, while others are
as large as a man’s fist; externally it is very rough, and of a
dark brown colour; the interior is hard and woody, and
contains a considerable number of oval larva-cells. The
imago appears in April.—G. LZ. Mayr.

Aphilothrix Radicis, which has not been found in England,
is attended in the gall by Synergus incrassatus, one of the
inquiline Cynipidez, or lodgers, whose presence in the galls is
not in accordance with the welfare of the first inhabitants.—
Francis Walker.

\
Hl

Fig. 2.—BioRHIZA APTERA.

Biorhiza aptera.—This species occurs on rootlets, which
vary in size from the quill of a raven to that of a goose,
and seems only to be found on oak-trees that have been
uprooted. It rarely occurs singly, and when this is the
case it varies in size from a pea to a cherry; generally
several are clustered together in one spot on the root, in
which case all of them are flattened where they press

4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

against each other (as is also the case in Cynips Ter-
ricola), forming altogether a brown mass, on the extreme
of which the outline of each separate gall is readily to be
perceived. When recent this gall is said to be succulent, but
when dry its section exhibits a reddish mass of cells, divided
from each other by their septa. Harting states these galls
have but one cell, but on investigation I find that the smaller
or pea-sized specimens possess from one to three cells, and
the larger or cherry-sized galls from three to five, or in some
instances as many as nine; these larger cells are oval,
measurrng seven millemetres in their longest, by six mille-
metres in their shortest, diameter, and are enclosed in a pale
yellow, softish, thinly-walled capsule, which is throughout
firmly united with the substance of the gall.—G. LZ. Mayr.
The existence of Biorhiza aptera, whose gall has been often
found on the roots of oak-trees in the south of England, is
liable to be shortened by the introduction of the germ of a
new life within it, as it is not secure from Callimome Roboris,
one of the gorgeous Chalcidia, or metallic-coloured fiies, of
which much must be said afterwards.—Francis Walker.

Notes on the Oxyura.—Family 2. Scelionide.
By Francis WALKER, Esq.

TELENOMUS BRACHIALIS.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

TrLeNomus Oruus.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

GRYON MISELLUS. Baus SEMINULUM.

PROSACANTHA VARICORNIS. TTELEAS CLAVICORNIS.

TUE ENTOMOLOGIST. a

THORON FORNICATUS,

In anticipation of preparing some notes on the distri-
bution and characters of the generally parasitic Hymenoptera,
the translation of the classification of the families, which
are distinguished by their comparatively small size and
simple structure, is here continued. The Ichneumonids,
Braconids, Cynipids, are deferred, and a Synopsis of the
European genera of Chalcids has appeared in the “ Notes

8 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

on Chalcidie.” The remaining families, of which the Myma-
ride and Platygasteride have already been noticed, are
interesting on account of their indicating various beginnings
of the Hymenopterous race, and from their being individually
and collectively, as it were, a life set above a life, or being
part of a double existence going on in a single outer form,
the increase of one being by the decrease of the other,
exhibiting or suggesting the same process in continually higher
degrees. The Scelionide are nearly allied to the Platygas-
teridz, but excel them and the Mymaridz in the development
of the wings, of which the vein or bone has much resemblance
to that of the Chaleidiz; they are also distinguished from the
Platygasteride by the structure of the antenne, and have a
greater variety in size and in form. The little Telenomi are
parasitic on eggs of Lepidoptera and of Hemiptera, and
the more diminutive Bzus occurs on windows, where Myma-
ride may often be secured by means of a brush and a bottle.
Thoron may be found on banks of ponds, and occasionally
take to the water. Scelio and Sparasion are widely different
from the two preceding genera. The Cerapbronidz are also
in some of their forms of very minute size; one kind may be
considered as an injurious insect, being, like Asaphes and
Coryna, a devourer of the beneficial Aphidii. ‘There do not
appear to be any links between them and the other families.
The slow movements of the Diapridz are very unlike the
quickness in running or in jumping of the two preceding
families; the males are distinguished by their elegant
antenne, and the species, like the Belytidz, dwell chiefly in
woods, where they are parasites on wood-eating or on fungus-
eating Coleoptera or Diptera. Platymischus inhabits the
sea-shore, where it is of frequent occurrence in the South and
West of England, and is probably parasitic on some sea-weed
insect. In the Belytide and in the Proctotrupide the fly
begins to rise above the more rudimentary structure, which
distinguishes the preceding families. A Proctotrupes has been
observed to be parasitic on Orchesia micans and on Lithobius.
The Heloride, like the Proctotrupide, indicate a passage to
the higher tribes, but there is no occasion here to mention
particulars of this transition. In the Embolemide there is a
still nearer approach to aculeate Hymenoptera, which include
part of the Bethylide.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 9

ScELIONIDS.

Club of the antennee not jointed.
Wings developed. - - - : THORON.
Wings none or rudimentary.
No scutellum. = L - 2 Bzvs.
Scutellum developed. - - - Acouus.
Club of the antenne jointed.
Subcostal vein shortened, not joining the
costa. - : : - - BxoNEURA.

b. Subcostal vein not shortened, joining the

costa.
* Marginal branch very long, at least four or

five times as long as the stigmatic branch.
+ Scutum with two sharply-defined complete

furrows. Antenne of the male long,

verticillate ; of the female clayate. - XENOMERUS.
++ Scutum without such furrows. Antenne of

the male not verticillate.
t Hind tarsi thick. Middle tibie with feeble

pWwiy,op >

spines. - - - - - TELEAS.
tt Hind tarsi not thick. Middle tibie without
spines. - - - - PROSACANTHA.

** Marginal branch very short, mostly shorter
than the stigmatic branch.
+ First abdominal segment narrow.
{ Second abdominal segment the largest. - TELENOMUS.
}{ Third abdominal segment the largest.
§ Furrows. of the parapsides very distinct.
Wings with no postmarginal branch. ANTERIS.
§§ Furrows of the parapsides not apparent.
Wings with a long postmarginal branch. - Baryconvs.
+} First abdominal segment broad.
{ Front with a sharply-defined border. - SPARASION.
{{ Front with no such border.
§ Postmarginal branch much developed, longer
than the stigmatic branch.
x Postscutellum with some spines. - . TRIMORUS.
X X Postscutellum with no spine. ‘
A Antenne filiform in the female. - - APrGus.
AA Antenne clavate in the female, filiform in the
male.
- Marginal branch punctiform. Last joint of
the club of the antenne twice as long as
the preceding joint. . - Grvon.

10 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

+--+ Marginal branch half as long as the shaft of
the stigmatic branch. Last joint of the
club of the antenne little longer than the
preceding joint. Body short, contracted. Hapronorus.
§§ Postmarginal branch wanting, or shorter than
the stigmatic branch.

x Postmarginal branch wholly wanting. - ScELIO.
x X Postmarginal branch much shorter than the
stigmatic branch. - - . Tpris.
SPARASION.
A. Flagellum of the antenne with horizontal
hairs. - - - : - frontale, Latr.
B. Flagellum with hairs not horizontal.
a. Head slight. Mesothorax eeneous-green. - enescens, Hoerst.
b. Head and mesothorax black. - - lepidum, Foerst.

The genus Trimorus is established on Gryon Nanna and
on G. Phlias; Apegus leptocerus is mentioned as the type of
the genus Apegus, but no description is given. In like
manner Hadronotus laticeps and H. stygirus are merely
mentioned as the representatives of that genus, but are not
described. A short description is given of Scelio fulvipes,
found near Aachen; Idris flavicornis is cited as the only
species of that genus, but is not described.

FRANcIS WALKER.

A List of Macro-Lepidoptera taken in Alderney.
By. W. A. Lurr.

THE following, with one or two exceptions, were taken
from the 23rd to the 30th of June, 1873 :—

Melitea Cinxia.—Rather plentiful, but only in one loca-
lity, in a valley on the west coast of the island; they had,
however, been out some time, and were nearly all much
worn.

_ Vanessa Urtice.—Saw one specimen.

Pyrameis Atalanta.—Plenty of hybernated specimens.

P. Cardui.—One.

Pyrarga Megera.—Two specimens, one with a bipupilled
eye-spot. I may here say that this variety is not at all
uncommon in Guernsey and Sark.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. } ll

Epinephele Janira.—Extremely abundant.
Polyommatus Phleas.—Not uncommon.
Lycena Icarus.—By far the most abundant species.
Colias Edusa.—One specimen, sent me in 1868 from
Alderney.
Pieris Rape.—Very common.
P. Brassice.—Saw only two.
Acherontia Atropos.—\ have no doubt that this insect is
common, as I had a good description of the larva from one
of the natives.
Sphinx Convolvuli.mReceived a specimen from Alderney
in 1868.
Macroglossa Stellatarum.—Two.
Euchelia Jacobee.—Not uncommon; the food- -plant,
Senecio vulgaris, very abundant.
Chelonia caja.—Seems commoner than in Guernsey ; I
took four specimens.
C. villica.—One.
Arctia fuliginosa.—Not uncommon.
A, lubricipeda.—Very common.
A. Menthastri.—Took several.
Liparis auriflua.—One larva feeding on hawthorn.
_ Bombyx Trifolii—Found the larve pretty common all

around the coast, but they were most abundant close to Fort
Touraille ; there I took fifty specymens in about two hours:
they were feeding on a coarse, wiry grass growing amongst
the sand.

Rumia crategata.—Took two or three.

Acidalia subsericeata.—Several on the west coast.

Aspilates citrariaa—Not uncommon, but of no use as
specimens, being too much worn.

Abraxas grossulariata.—Pupe abundant on gooseberry
and currant bushes.

Emmelesia decolorata.—Not uncommon.

Melanippe ocellata.—One.

Camptogramma bilineata.—Extremely abundant.

Cidaria russata.—Not uncommon.

Pelurga comitata.—One fine specimen.

Xylophasia polyodon.—Several at sugar.

Mamestra Brassice.—Larvz abundant,

Apamea oculea.—One.

y= THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Miana strigilis—Two at sugar.

Agrotis Segetum.—One.

Tryphena pronuba.—T wo at light.

Diantheecia conspersa.—Found several young Dianthecia
larve feeding in the seed-pods of ragged robin (Lychnis
Flos-Cuculi), which I suppose were Conspersa, but I did not
succeed in rearing them.

Phlogophora meticulosa.—One or two at sugar.

Euplexia lucipara.—Not uncommon.

Cucullia umbratica.—Several resting on stones and gate-
posts.

Plusia Gamma.—Extremely abundant.

The above list shows a total absence of many of the com-
monest British Lepidoptera on the wing in June. The island
is so exposed, and almost devoid of hedges and trees, that I
was almost surprised to find so many species. The nearest
point of France, Cape La Hogue, is only ten miles distant, so
that rare species would be not unlikely to occur if the island
was searched at all times of the year.

W. A. Lurr.

Guernsey.

Three Notes on Aphides. By Francis WALKER, Esq.

1. Aphides of Amurland,—There are only two species of
the Aphis tribe to record from Amurland, but they are
both of interest on account of their distribution elsewhere.
The first is Lachnus Picew, known as one of the most
northern insects observed, and of frequent occurrence among
the snows and glaciers of Switzerland: it appears occasion-
ally and irregularly near London, but has not been often
observed in England. The second is Dryobius croaticus, a
native of Italy and of Croatia, and closely allied to D. Roboris,
which is a native of more Northern Europe, and some may
suppose that the difference between the two, and the more
darkened wings of the former, is the effect of a difference of
climate.

2. Yearly Close of Aphis-life in the Fall.—October is the
egg-laying season of Lachnus Picezx, and of very many other
kinds of the Aphis tribe, and at this epoch there is a great
gathering of Aphides to the spots which witnessed in the

|

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 13

spring their exclusion from the egg state. Many-coloured
leaves are continually falling, or are wafted by the breeze,
and are freighted with more or less limited companies of
Aphides, which they convey peacefully to the earth, to
mingle there with dust. Their futurity is secured in the egg,
and the quiet close of their yearly life differs much from the
summer period. They are not now destroyed by outward
nor by inward enemies, and are free from the officious over-
running of the ants, when the latter remark their growing, but
transitory, abundance, and calculate on a proportionate
supply of honey.

3. Aphis-honey.— Bees find their honey comparatively
prepared for them in flowers, but the honey by the medium
of Aphides has various beginnings, and analysis may show
whether it has a difference in quality by the difference in its
origin. It is extracted from the crevices of old oak trees,
from the twigs of young oak trees, from the roots of grass, of
sow-thistles and of parsneps, from the nettle and the bramble,
from the ivy and the honeysuckle, from the willow and the
poplar, from the bog-myrtle and the sea-aster, and its sweet-
ness has abundance of other sources.

FRANCIS WALKER.

Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.

Cause of Shrivelling of Wings of Lepidoptera.—Will some
of your correspondents assign a satisfactory reason for the
shrivelling of the wings of Lepidoptera? There are doubtless
several causes to which this imperfection can be traced.
Amongst others is the scarcity of provisions when the larve
are about to be full fed, which will no doubt lead to this.
When the feeding-house contains many larve of the larger
sorts it is really difficult to provide them with sufficient pro-
vender; and though you may supply them over-night with
what you consider to be ‘“‘a heavy feed,” in the morning
when you approach the breeding-cage, to your surprise, you
find it contains nothing but sticks and stalks, and hungry
animals. It requires an old hand to be able to cater properly
for creatures with such enormous appetites, and if the quantity
of food is insufficient the result will be shrivelled-winged

14 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

imagos. But this is not always the reason for this malforma-
tion. This season I had two larve of Liparis dispar, which
were confined in a large, wide-mouthed glass with a muslin
cover, and which were abundantly fed, their food being the
large leaves of the plum, and their number so small there was
no difficulty about it, and they spun up in the midst of plenty
on the 2I1st and 24th of July. The imagos appeared on the
15th of August; both females, with shrivelled wings. Should
the pupa be enclosed in a glass or box which is not sufficiently
large to give the imago ample room to expand, the same
shrivelling will occur; but in this case, neither a want of
space nor a scarcity of food could have been the cause.—
Owen Wilson ; Cwmffrwd, Carmarthen, August 16, 1873.
Insect Congeries.—Many species of insects are known to
occur occasionally in vast swarms, and our entomological
periodicals contain several records of facts of this description.
In the “nest-room” at the British Museum may be seen a
cluster of the Dipterous fly Atherix Ibis, concerning which
Walker’s ‘Diptera’ contains the following note :—‘ The
female of this fly is gregarious, and attaches its eggs in large
clusters to boughs hanging over streams, and there remains,
and shortly dies. The cluster is generally pear-shaped, and
sometimes contains many thousands of dead flies, and con-
tinually receives accessions by new comers settling upon it.”
Similar masses have since been found of even larger size, and
they are probably not uncommon. I have’a vivid recollection
of seeing small heaps of dead bodies of winged ants on the
roof of the great tower of the Abbey Church of St. Alban’s,
in September, 1870 ; and a like swarm gave rise to an alarm of
fire at Cobourg in 1865,—noticed in the daily papers at the
time: smoke was apparently seen issuing from the spire of the
cathedral; a scaffolding was hastily erected, and a man sent
up with buckets of water to check the impending conflagra-
tion. It was then discovered that an immense congregation
of winged ants flying around the tower was the sole cause of
the alarming phenomenon. Everyone recollects the service
the myriads of Syrphide and Coccinelle rendered to penny-
a-liners in search of a subject on which to exercise their
florid pens during the “ silly season” a few years back; and
many kinds of Aphides and Thrips are ofttimes equally
anxious to achieve notoriety by the mere force of numbers,

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 15

As a contribution to this subject I beg to put on record an
incident which my brother and I witnessed during an after-
noon’s ramble at the latter end of August last. We were
“ prospecting” in a favourite nook of ours in Epping Forest,
near the village of Woodford, when we chanced upon an
astonishing sight: a patch of fern and broom, about four
yards square, was literally blackened by a swarm of a little
fly, Sepsis cynipsea, Z.; every frond and twig seemed alive
with the myriads of insects, slowly moving about and gently
fanning their beautiful, spotted, iridescent wings with a
steady and simultaneous motion. Some idea of their pro-
digious numbers may be formed when I mention that two or
three sweeps of a butterfly-net secured a mass of flies which
weighed more than half a pound! We noticed that the mass
exhaled a rather strong, and by no means an unpleasant,
odour of “lemon-thyme.” The swarm consisted of males
and females; but a long examination of the spot failed to
throw any light on the cause of this assembly. The larve,
Mr. Walker informs me (I am indebted to him for the name
of the insect), feed on decaying matter, but we could find no
difference in this respect in the small patch of herbage
covered with the insects, or the ground beneath them, com-
pared with the surrounding open forest glade. Mr. Walker
once found a large cluster on a statue in Highgate Cemetery.
I shall be glad if this notice leads to the publication of
similar facts, for a rational explanation of this class of
phenomena, based on observation, would certainly be wel-
comed by all lovers of Nature—W*m. Cole; The Common,
Stoke Newington, N.

Certain Insecls emerge from the Pupa by Hydraulic
Pressure.—Being only a beginner and having seen nothing
in any work I have read on the emergence of insects from the
pupa, but that they “wriggle out,’ 1 was surprised and
delighted when I saw the wonderful power at their command
to effect their deliverance. On the 14th of July last, as I sat
watching some Bembeciformis dry themselves after their birth
on the stem of an old willow, I took in my fingers a pupa that
had just come to the mouth of its tunnel, and holding it
between my eye and the light, being in a gloomy part of a
wood at the time, I saw that the anal segment of the case was
empty, and the enclosed insect emitting several drops of fluid

16 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

till this space was full, when the case burst in the usual place,
and the insect walked out; there was no wriggling or con-
tortion during the operation. I had frequently observed this
fluid in the recent cases, but had no idea of the use the
insect had .made of it in expelling itself from its envelope by
its means. Readers acquainted with the pressure of fluids
will understand the comparatively immense power an insect
may have in this way. As I had several hundred pupe of
Bembeciformis and Typhe I had frequent opportunity of
observing the process, and these moths emerge at a convenient
time, from eight to twelve o’clock a.m., for observation. I
also remarked that when the pupe of Typha were removed
from the support of the stem of the food-plant the abdominal
segments of the case were forced off, the anterior remaining
on the insect, but when supported this did not happen.—
William Talbot ; Tarbert, Limerick.

In the matter of Lathonia, Leucophea, and Albipuncta
(Entom. vi. 563).—I have sent you the dates and localities of
the three above-named insects, all taken within fourteen miles
of Canterbury, as I see by the December number of the
‘Entomologist’ many specimens of the above-named insects,
in fact the majority of those sold as British were nothing but
continental, and the three insects named I have no hesitation
in saying have their head-quarters in this locality. The first-
named I took the first year I collected, which is about seven-
teen or eighteen years ago, when my father, brother and myself
took nineteen, all of which Mr. Cooke, of New Oxford Street,
had alive, as he was collecting in this locality. I did not see
it again until 1868, when I took thirteen. Since then I have
taken it every year, and believe I shall continue to do so. As
to Pachetra leucophea, the first 1 ever saw was taken by
myself on June 13th, 1872, which was a female, and not
knowing the insect I forwarded it alive to Mr. Stevens, who
named it for me. I then worked hard to find more, and tried
the next night, when I only found one poor specimen, which
was flying at the top of the long grass. I then tried sugar,
and the first time I sugared, which was a Saturday night, |
took twenty-three, out of which there were only four bad
specimens; the others were as good as bred. I sent an old
one alive to Mr. Bond, also a second to Mr. Newman. I also
took two on the 19th and one on the 2Ist. All the above I

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 17

took in about eight days. This year I have not taken so
many: although I have worked very hard for them I have
only taken twenty, and about one-half of these were bad
specimens; the females are almost sure to be good. No one
could be taken in with continental specimens of P. leucophea,
as they differ from ours as much as though they were two
distinct species: our specimens are very pale, being almost
white; the marks are quite white, especially along the hind
margin of the wings; whereas the foreign specimens are
larger and very much darker in colour, even on the under
side. I will now mention Nonagria albipuncta, the third
specimen known, which I took in a pine wood, August 12th,
1869, and sent alive to Dr. Harper, of Hyde Park; on
the 16th I took one; on the 17th, one; on the 19th, three.
I also sent one or two of the others off alive. In 1870 I took
eleven fine specimens in our Blean, Hospital, and Pine Woods;
in 1871, a collector, named Edney, and I took upwards of
twenty, mostly fine; in 1872, only nine specimens; and in
1873, only five specimens between two of us. I may add that
had we worked well we could have taken upwards of a
hundred in 1871. In conclusion, if any private gentleman is
in want of the above-named three species, I shall be but too
happy to take him to my hunting-ground, where I can
promise he shall take them himself.—G. Parry; Church
Street, St. Paul's, Canterbury, December 1, 1878.

D. conspersa and D. compia (Entom. vi. 518, 546, 564).—
In reply to Mr. Meek’s singularly inaccurate and illogical
paper, permit me to answer him categorically. First, then, I
never asked if D. compta was British. I wished that some
one would place so-called British (Irish?) specimens (?) in a
relaxing-box, &c., and never showed him a Dianthecia
compta, or said I took one on the Big Hill of Howth, in
Wales, or elsewhere; he and others called my Penmaenbach
var. of Conspersa, Compta; not I; and I am quite sure no
amount of placing it in a damp box will ever make it Compta.
I think your readers perfectly understand what he pretends
puzzles him, hence I need not pursue that phantom, but
proceed at once to show that Mr. Warrington cannot help me
much. He (Mr. Warrington) says, in reply to my question :
—“1 have seen the remarks about Compta and Conspersa in
the ‘Entomologist.’ 1 recollect picking out Conspersa in

D

18 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

your collection as most like the one I took in Ireland, named
Compta; but, as I said before, ldo not know Compta so well
as to distinguish the difference, so I took Mr. Meek’s word for
it: it was the latter end of July when I took it.” But he says
nothing of having seen Mr. Meek take one. How logical
Mr. Meek is, when he says he spent night after night looking
for one species and did not take another species, | need not
comment upon, merely observing D. Cesia var. Manani
appears as a fleeting blue speck, gliding more like a Sphinx
from flower to flower, and frequenting those Silene plants
which grow nearest to high-water mark on the coast, whilst
D. Barrettii appears as a spinning dark Plusia Gamma-like
flying moth, and frequents those plants of Silene and honey-
suckle which grow at a considerable elevation up the banks
and grassy slopes. And last, I do not remember telling any-
body “Sesia Philanthiformis was common at Howth.”* 1
did not want that species when I was there, else I should
have gone more on the southern end of Howth, amongst the
almost inaccessible cliffs, not on grassy banks, where
D. Barrettii is most abundant, and where there is only
one small patch of rock which could supply the peculiarly
stunted plants of sea-pink within range of the splash of the
tidal spray, which this species seems to affect most. Even at
Onchan, Isle of Man, Mr. Meek might have noticed that he
only found the pupa of Philanthiformis within a zone of a few
feet wide, and in June, not July, and that zone within a few feet
of high-water mark; at any rate, I directed him so to search
for it there. I am quite aware one person may take a species
and others fail to find it, but there are species I should not
expect to find under certain circumstances, for example,—
Mr. Meek wrote me several letters (now before me) from the
“ Manx Arms,” Onchan, Isle of Man, in June, 1871, asking
me to come and show him how to find the larve of Polia
nigrocincta, he having failed to find it in its very best time
(first two weeks in June), and said he had taken a new
Bombyx. When I got there Mr. Warrington had sold him

* [Possibly the following is the passage to which Mr. Meek referred :—
“ Additions to Mr. Birchall’s List of the Lepidoptera of Ireland.—Sesia
Philanthiformis freely on the coast of Howth, from the baths to the Round
Tower in Dublin Bay, where the sea-pink (Statice Armeria) grows upon the

rocks. June and July.—C. S. Gregson; Stanley, Liverpool.” ‘ Entomologist’s
Monthly Magazine,’ vol. iy. p. 70.—Edward Newman. }

i ee

OT DP RO i I AI tt Nc Na ON aR er

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 19

several Nigrocincta larvee at three shillings each. I met him
on the rocks, and took eighteen larve that night, and think
he took about the same number, as we worked close together.
Afterwards he showed me three of his new Bombyx on the
sets, asking me what they were. I said, “ Gluphisia crenata,
certain.” Next day he observed, “ Well, you see they are
bred here and on the sets, but I should have liked you to have
seen them alive.” IJ remarked, “J did not doubt their being
bred here; the question is, Were they fed here?” Now, as
I do not know a single plant of their reputed food growing
near Onchan, I think I may fairly be excused if I refuse to
go searching for it there. But to return to D.compta. Now
we know how many specimens are reported from Howth, I
think Iam more justified than ever in asking that the so-called
(Irish) Compta, which have so freely been moving about
amongst buying collectors of Lepidoptera, should be tested ;
but another reason is also patent. Polia nigrocincta is also
being offered for sale, and being sold freely. Now, as Mr.
Meek has had al/ the Manz specimens of this species which
have been sold, with one or two exceptions, up to this year,
so the numerous specimens being sold cannot be, and, so far as
those of them which have been submitted to me for identifi-
cation go, are not Manx, or like Manx, specimens: they are
the common suffused German form of this species, not the
variety called Statices, in consequence of its differing so very
materially in colour and intensity of markings from any form
of continental P. nigrocincta I have yet obtained or seen.
Three Compta have recently been in Lancashire ; but without
any desire to depreciate Mr. Meek’s success, I feel bound in
justice to myself to show there is no truth in his statement,
that I said this or did that, as 1 am sure that the time has
quite come when people should cease reiterating that I said
so and so, or did so and so, for any purpose.—C. S. Gregson ;
Rose Bank, Liverpool, November 9, 1873.

Dianthecia Compta (Entom. vi. 563)—Where is Mr.
Warrington? I shall feel greatly obliged if he will come
forward and state the fact ‘hai he captured Compla with me
at Howth. On referring to my diary I find the following
notes :—June 2lst, six Barrettii, one Compta; June 28rd,
one Compta, seven Barrettii; June 25th, one Compta taken
by Warrington, and thirteen Barrettii by myself. Although

20 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

I stayed till early in July I did not find any more Compta
that season. I shall be very pleased to join any London
gentleman entomologist next season for a trip to Howth,
when no doubt we can settle the “matter of Dianthoecia
Compta” for ever. I may add that Compta occurs on the
cliff at the bottom of Sir Edward Burrows’ grounds, and the
paths are beautifully ornamented with fuchsias, sweet-williams,
and nasturtiums, also huge patches of sea-pink and Silene
maritima, collected from various parts of the coast; every
particle of the latter was destroyed by a well-known entomo-
logist about six years ago, much to Sir Kdward’s annoyance.
—E. G. Meek; 56, Brompton Road, S.W.

British Species alias Continental (Entom. vi. 563).—True
lovers of the collecting of British insects must hail with
pleasure the remarks of our valued friend, Mr. Henry
Doubleday, on the authenticity of numerous rare species
passing as British, but in reality and without doubt aliens;
such a mode in forming a collection of British insects is very
damaging to this interesting Science. I, for one, have lost
much of the interest I hitherto had, principally from this
cause, that there is scarcely any depending on an insect
(called rare) from whatever quarter you may receive it.—F. O.
Standish; 1, Glendale Villas, King’s Road, Cheltenham,
December 1, 1873.

[This controversy must now cease.—H. Newman.]

Xanthia aurago and Cirrhedia xerampelina near Llan-
gollen (Entom. vi. 547, 564).—In the ‘Entomologist’ for
December, 1873, Mr. Gregson records the capture of a speci-
men of Xanthia aurago at Llangollen, and states that he is
not aware of any previous capture of that insect on this
side of England or in Wales. It may, therefore, interest
him to know that in the year 1865 I found a good, fresh
specimen of X. aurago, resting, by day, on the staircase
of this house, which is ten miles from Llangollen. I
am unable to give the exact date, as I had not then
begun to collect with any system. It was one of the first
moths I ever captured, but is still in good preservation,
though unfortunately set on acommon pin. It was not till
some years aflerwards that, on obtaining your ‘ British
Moths,’ I learned the name and value of the species. I may
mention that though I have never taken another Aurago, my

ee

SO ge ee NE ee

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 21

sisters and I have, at different times, found Xanthia gilvago
and Cirrhedia xerampelina within the limits of our own
garden.—[ Miss] Anne Sileele Perkins; Ashgrove, Overton,
Flintshire, December 2, 1873.

Aanthia Aurago (Entom. vi. 564).—Permit me to say that
I think Mr. Gregson’s note scarcely adds to our knowledge of
the westerly range of Xanthia Aurago. The insect having
long ago been recorded to occur in Ireland, its capture at
Llangollen is not remarkable, so far as westerly longitude is
concerned.—Edwin Birchall.

Hybridizing Smerinthi.—This year I bred out specimens
of Smerinthus ocellatus and S. Populi, which I was lucky
enough to have crossed, male Populi with female Ocellatus ; in
about twenty-four hours after she began to deposit her batch
of eggs: they were deposited in batches differing in
number; they were all unattached; the number deposited
was a hundred and seventy, deposited at intervals, and
more so after being disturbed. The duration in the egg
state was fifteen days; colour at first was bluish, then
changed in a few days to a light flesh-colour; the caterpillar
fed on apple-leaves. After feeding for three weeks began to
wander from their food, and died with the diarrhea. If you
can throw out a few hints it may be a guide for the future, to
myself as well as others, how to treat them if lucky enough
to cross. Is this a common occurrence ?—John Williams ;
100, Well Street, Hanley, Staffordshire, November 12, 1873.

Description of the Larva of Macrogaster Arundinis.—The
following notes on this larva may be useful, as being fuller
than those given in your work on ‘British Moths.’ On May
9th, 1873, I found a single larva of this species inside the
stem of a reed, at. Wicken Fen. The following description
was taken on May 10th:—Bulk slender in proportion to
length; head flattened, about half the size of the 2nd seg-
ment, and retractile within it; form cylindrical, but tapering
towards the extremity; a corneous plate, with ten black
spots on the 2nd segment. The larva is covered with a
number of warts, emitting some six short hairs on each
segment, but more numerous on the last. Spiracles pink, and
not easily perceptible. General colour a pale rose. Head
dull ochreous; mouth black, with two black spots on each
side. Medio-dorsal line conspicuous, being of a darker tint

op THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

than the ground colour; subdorsal line broader, interrupted,
and of a brownish colour; spiracular line very indistinct.
Each segment, excepting the first two, is mottled with two
patches of brown, nearly coalescing. The under surface is
pinkish white. Hind legs blackish pink. Claspers of a dull
white colour. The larva unfortunately did not go into pupa
successfully—G. H. Raynor; St. John’s College, Cam-
bridge, October 20, 1873.

Liparis auriflua and L. chrysorrhaca.—It may be within
your recollection that I raised the question, in the ‘ Entomo-
logist’ of June last, as to whether it was now the habit of
L. auriflua to form a common nest in the winter season, since
that has become, on the average, so much milder than
formerly. I had never myself found any such winter colony,
and friends of whom I enquired made the same admission ;
and also that in autumn, beating for larve, they had not
found the species feeding gregariously. No reply was sent
to your pages, or none that you thought desirable to publish.
This month I have seen many of their winter nests, more
particularly in the hedges lying towards the marshes below
Gravesend, where it is, doubtless, colder in winter than in
many places. I have forwarded to you a couple of these
colonies for examination. Somehow, I still think it is not
the normal habit of L. auriflua thus to congregate; but 1 may
be wrong.—John R. S. Clifford; 120, Windmill Street,
Gravesend, October 10, 1878.

(I think Mr. Clifford’s larvae, which are very small, will
turn out to be L. chrysorrheea.x—Hdward Newman. |

Ptilophora plumigera.—lt is very likely that many speci-
mens of Notodonta plumigera have been taken in Hampshire ;
but as at the time your invaluable ‘ History of Moths’ was
written, Buckinghamshire was the only recorded locality, I
thought it might be worth while to mention that on the
evening of November 20th I took a magnificent specimen
from a street-lamp, and at the same time a male Petasia
cassinea, also in splendid condition.—Joseph Anderson, jun. ;
Alresford, Hants, November 21, 1873.

Dasycampa rubiginea, Eremobia ochroleuca, and Sphina
Convolvuli, at Christchurch.—On the evening of the 7th of
November I caught a fine specimen of Dasycampa rubiginea
at ivy-bloom in my own garden. The Rey. A. C. Hervey

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. PAs:

informed me that he had caught three specimens of this
beautiful Noctua in this neighbourhood last year. I think,
therefore, we may fairly claim Christchurch as one of the
localities for Rubiginea. I wish also to mention (as I find
some reference to Eremobia ochroleuca in the,‘ Entomologist’
for November) that I caught several specimens of this insect
on the evenings of the 14th, 18th, and 19th of August last;
and in August, 1871, one flying by day. On the 8rd of
October a boy brought me a live specimen of Sphinx Con-
volvuli: being a female, and in rather a dilapidated condi-
tion, I kept it for a fortnight, in the hope of obtaining some
eggs, but I am sorry to say it died without gratifying me.—
W. McRae; Christchurch School, Hants, Nov. 22, 1878.

Plusia interrogationis near Driffield (Eutom. vi. 516).—
Like your correspondent, Mr. Robinson, I had the pleasure
of taking a very fine specimen of Plusia interrogationis on
the llth July, 1873, over some honeysuckle.-—Geo. R.
Dawson; Poundsworth, near Driffield, November 21, 1878.

Supposed New Cryptocephalus——In May, 1870, I took,
flying in the bright sunshine, in the trench that surrounds
the old Roman camp on the summit of St. Catherine’s
Hill, Winchester, a specimen of a smallish Cryptocephalus,
perfectly black, with the exception of a small yellowish spot
at the extremity of each elytron. Mr. F. Smith, of the British
Museum, referred this to a variety of C. Morzi, from which,
however, it differs by its much larger size, being nearly half
as big again as that species. Mr. E. W. Janson, however,
thinks that it must be Cryptocephalus lineola, with specimens
of which it certainly agrees better than with C. Morzi.
Lineola is, I believe, almost exclusively a northern species,
so that its occurrence in such a southern locality as Win-
chester is interesting —W. A. Forbes.

Singular fact: Tenacity of Life in a Specimen of Satyrus
Semele.—One day, being very windy, while sojourning on the
South coast during the past summer, and for want of better
employment, I amused myself in netting a few Satyrus Semele,
and in the act of getting one in my cyanide-bottle the head got
cut off; as the Semele tried to escape I pill-boxed it, and had
it therein alive for four days, occasionally letting it out, and
it would fly a short distance. ‘The head, with antenne, blew
out of my net. One would almost ask, Whereabouts was its
vitality ?>—F’. O. Standish ; 402, High Street, Cheltenham.

Q4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Aphilothrix Globuli, Hart., a Gall-maker new to Britain.—
I found a gall of this species on oak in Hockley Bull Wood,
near here, on the 13th of October. This species is allied to
Aphilotrix Gemme, Linn. (=Fecundatrix, Hart.), the maker
of the artichoke.gall of the oak.—#. A. Fitch ; Down Hall,
Rayleigh, Essex, November 15, 1873.

Correction of Error.—The plant, in the flower-heads of
which I find galls produced by Urophora solstitialis, Zinn.,
is not Serratula tinctoria, as I stated (Entom. vi. 142), but the
common knapweed (Centaurea nigra).—Jd.

The South London Entomological Society.—The Second
Annual Exhibition of this Society took place at the “ Horns”
Assembly Rooms, Kennington, on Wednesday, December
10th, and was well attended, notwithstanding a thick fog which
prevailed all the evening. The principal exhibitions were :—
Lepidoptera, by Mr. Wellman (the President), Mr. Farn,
Mr. Allin, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Williams; Mr. Boden also
exhibited some remarkable varieties; Mr. Hoey exhibited
several life-histories of great interest. Coleoptera, by Mr.
Champion, Mr. Marsh, Mr. Jarvis, Mr. Oldham, and Mr.
Bull. Neuroptera, by Mr. M‘Lachlan. Hymenoptera, by
Mr. Hoey. Diptera, by Mr. Verrall. Exotic Lepidoptera,
by Mr. Janson.—Edward Newman.

Haggerston Entomological Society—The Sixth Annual
Exhibition of this Society took place at their Rooms,
10, Brownlow Street, Dalston, on the 13th of November.
Among the most interesting objects were a striking variety of
Galathea, exhibited by Mr. Stevens; very fine varieties of
Nupta and a black Grossulariata, by Mr. Kedle ; and a black
variety of Paphia, by Mr. Moore.—Jd.

Melitea Artemis.—A Plate, on steel, with four coloured
figures of the English, Irish and Scotch forms of Melitea
Artemis, illustrating Mr. Birchall’s paper in the December
‘Entomologist’s Magazine, may be obtained on application
to the Author, Kirkstall Grove, near Leeds, price one
shilling, post free. Fig. 1 represents the English form of
Artemis; fig. 2, male and female of the Irish form (var.
Hibernica) ; fig. 3, the Scotch form (va. Merope).

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

No. 126.] FEBRUARY, MDCCCLXXIYV. [Price 6d.

Notes on the Oxyura.—Family 8. Ceraphronide. 4. Dia-
pride. 5. Belytide. 6. Proctotrupide. 7. Heloride.
8. Embolemide. 9. Bethylide. 10. Dryinide. By
Francis WALKER, Esq.

= S eee
\ “
as NN y ( »Y =
<> — hee
es ie —
—

Empotremus Rupprm,

VOL, VII. E

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

26

LABEO VITRIPENNIS.

APHELOPUS MELALEUCUS.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 97

CHELOGYNUS DORSALIS.

DicoxpyLUs PEDESTRIS.

28

o OE

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

EpyRIs NIGER.

CERAPHRONIDA.

. No ocelli. - - . - - Lacynoprs, female.
. Ocelli conspicuous.
. Wings without a determinate costal stigma,

or merely with a linear one.

* Front between the base of the antenna with

b.

Ks

a spine. - - - - - Laaynopzs, male.

sk The same with no spine. - - - CERAPHRON.

Wings with a broad costal stigma.
Wings hairless. —- - - - ‘'TRICHOSTERESIS.
Wings hairy.

+ Antenne of the male serrated. Eyes of the

female bare. - - - - Lyaocervs.
++ Antenne of the male filiform. Eyes of the
female hairy. — - - : - MEGASPILUS.

The genus Lagynodes was previously named Microps, but
Foerster does not recognize the latter name, because it had
been already applied to a reptile and to a beetle. The genus
Ceraphron of Jurine is not identical with that of Latreille
and of Nees, but corresponds with the genus Calliceras of
the latter, and the name Calliceras is set aside by Foerster

on

account of its resemblance to the Dipterous genus

Callicera. The genus Megaspilus formerly included the

ee

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 99

species which now represent the genera Lygocerus and
Trichostoresis, and the type of the latler is Cenaphron
clandestinus, Nees (= glaber, Boh.).

DIAPRIDE.
A. Wings notched at the tips. - - - ENTOMACIS.
B. Wings not notched at the tips.
a. First joint of the antenne very much dilated. Pxarymiscuus.
b. First joint of the antenne not very much

dilated.
* Front much elongated. First joint of the
antennee distorted in the middle. - - GALESUS.

as * Front not much elongated. First joint of the
antenne not distorted.
+ Subcostal vein not extending to the costa.
t Subcostal vein with a stigmatic branch at the

tip. - - - - - ANEURHYNCHUS.
tt Subcostal vein with no stigmatic branch at
the tip. - - - Lazo.rpes, fem.
++ Subcostal vein Bending to the costa.
Male.

{ Antenne 12-jointed. - - - CEPHALONOMIA.
{{ Antenne with thirteen or fourteen joints.
§ Antenne with thirteen joints.
x First joint of the oom ey half as
long as the second. PARAMESIUS.
x First “joint of the flagellum as iene as the
second or longer.
o Second abdominal segment with one or more
grooves at the base.

+ Wings with a costal vein. - - : TpIoTYPA.
+--+ Wings with no costal vein. - - - - HEMILEXIS.
oo Second abdominal segment with no groove at
the base. - - - - - SPILOMIcRUS.
§§ Antenne 14-jointed.
x Wings with no basal vein. - : : DrapRiA.

x x Wings with a basal vein.
o First joint of the flagellum dgenctly shorter

than the second. - - - Basatys.
oo First joint of the flagellum not distinctly
shorter than the second. - : - Loxorropa.
Female.

t Antenne 12-jointed.
§ Head large and flat. - CEPHALONOMIA.

30 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

§§ Head not large and flat.
x Wings with no basal vein.
o Scutum with distinct furrows. - - GLYPTONOTA.
oo Scutum with no furrows. - - - “‘Diapria.
xX X Wings with a costal vein.
o Club of the antennz 5-jointed. Scutum with

> ae i AOR sat Re A ani ts at ams ta hie tl Pt

furrows. - - - - - Iprorypa.
oo Club of the antenne at most 4-jointed.
Scutum with no furrows. - - - Loxorropa.
t Autenne with thirteen joints.
§ Club of the antenne with only one joint. = - MoneELata.
§§ Club of the antenne with more joints.
x Abdomen conical, acuminated. - - PARAMESIUS.
x x Abdomen truncated at the tip.
o Wings with no marginal branch. - - HEMILEXIS.
oo Wings with a marginal branch. - - SPILoMIcRus.
tt Antenne with fourteen joints. - - PoLYPEZA.

Ae ae ote

Of Entomacis, which he describes as closely resembling
Encoila (= Cothonaspis), there are three species, which he
does not name, and he is quite silent as to the species of the
other new genera which he has established.

BELYTIDA.

Male.
A. Eyes bare.
a. Scutum without furrows. Incisures of the abdo-
men very strongly marked. - - - IsMARvs. ;
b. Scutum with furrows. Incisures of the abdomen ;
not very deep. - . - - PsiILomma. |
B. Eyes hairy.
a. Postscutellum with a stout spine. - - OxyYLaBIS.
b. Postscutellum with no spine.
* Middle keel of the metathorax divided near the
tip. - - - - -
*k Middle keel of the metathorax not divided.
+ Radial areolet none, or open.
t Stigmatic branch and postmarginal branch so
much thickened that the radial areolet is
hardly distinct.
§ Basal veins obsolete. . : . - SYNACRA.
§§ Basal veins distinctly emitted. - - - Panvronyta.
tt Radial areolet more or less distinctly formed.
§ Fore tibiz with a tooth or a spine. - - ZYGOTA.

- BELYTA.

AED ens Nae ei ONE Rae ag sae

tae?

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 31

§§ Fore tibie with no tooth nor spine. - - AcristA.
++ Radial areolet closed.
t Petiole of the abdomen not or only slightly
longer than the metathorax.
§ Scape with the border at the tip Bpsneed and

in some aspects dentate. - - ACROPIESTA.
§§ Scape with the border at the tip not produced.
x Apical ventral segment straight, grooved. - ANECTATA.
x X Apical ventral segment somewhat curved, not
grooved. - - - - - Pawnrocuis.

t Petiole of the abdomen much longer than,
mostly twice as long as, the metathorax.
§ Marginal branch more than twice as long as the
radial areolet. - - - MACROHYNNIS.
§§ Marginal branch not twice as long as the radial
. areolet.
x Marginal branch as long as or hardly longer
than the stigmatic branch, always much
shorter than the radial areolet. - - XENOTOMA.
x X Marginal branch much longer than the stigmatic
branch, generally as long as the radial
areolet.
Scape as long as the first joint of the flagellum.
Second abdominal segment contracted on each

++

°

side. - - LEPTORHAPTUS.
oo Scape longer than the first joint ‘of the flagellum.
Second abdominal segment not contracted. - CINETUS.
Female.

A. Eyes bare.
a. Scutum without furrows. Incisures of the abdo-
men very strongly marked. - ; . IsMARUS.
b. Scutum with furrows. Sutures of the abdomen
not deep. - - - - - PsILoMMA.
B. Eyes hairy.
a. Antenne with more than twelve joints.
* Antenne 14-jointed.

+ No ocelli. - : . . - ANOMMATIUM.
++ With ocelli.

t Radial areolet hardly distinct. - . - Panroryta.
tt Radial areolet well defined. - . - ANEOTATA.
** Antenne 15-jointed.

+ Postscutellum with a stout spine. - - OxyLaBIs.

++ Postscutellum with no spine.

32

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

t First joint of the flagellum almost as long as

00

xX

t+te+

++

te t+

all the following joints together. - -

First joint of the flagellum much shorter than
all the following joints together.

Middle keel of the metathorax forked. - -

Middle keel of the metathorax not forked.

Third dorsal abdominal segment much longer
than the fourth.

Marginal branch as long as the radial areolet.
Last joints of the flagellum more than twice
as long as broad. - - - -

Marginal branch much shorter than the radial
areolet. Last joints of the flagellum not more
than twice as long as broad. - -

Third dorsal abdominal segment not longer or
not much longer than the fourth.

Dorsum of the abdomen with eight segments.

Radial areolet closed. .

Joints of the flagellum only slightly shortened
near the tip. - - - -

Joints of the flagellum much shortened near the
tip. - - - - - -

Radial areolet open.

Stigmatic branch and submarginal branch much
shortened, the former emerging from a nearly
right angle. - - . : -

Stigmatic branch and submarginal branch not
unusually shortened, the former emerging
from a very crooked angle. - : -

Dorsum of the abdomen with less than eight
segments.

Dorsum of the abdomen with seven segments. -

Dorsum of the abdomen with less than seven
segments.

Marginal branch more than twice as long as the
radial areolet ; recurrent continuation of radial

branch intersecting the basal vein. - - MAcROHYNNIS.

Marginal branch shorter, as long as, or a little
longer than, the radial areolet ; recurrent con-
tinuation of radial vein not intersecting the
basal vein.

Dorsum of the abdomen with three segments ;
second unusually elongated, almost extending
to the tip. Marginal branch distinctly shorter
than the radial areolet. - - -

DIPHORA.

BELYTA.

CINETUS.

XENOTOMA.

ZELOTYPA.

PANTOCLIS.

ZYGOTA.

ACLISTA.

ACROPIESTA.

Miora.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 33

ene Dorsum of the abdomen with three, very rarely
with four, segments; second not unusually
elongated. Marginal branch not shorter than
the radial areolet. - - - LEPTORHAPTUS.

Of Ismarus Foerster has described three species—Rugu-
losus, Halidayi and Neesii, the last being a synonym of Belyta
unomala, Nees. Of Psilomma, Oxylabis, Synacra, Pantolyta,
Zygota, Aclista, Acropiesta, Anectata, Pantoclis, Macro-
hynnis, Xenotoma, Leptorhaptus, Anommatium, Diphora,
Zelotypa, and Miota, he mentions no types.

PrRoctorTRuPipz.

Foerster makes of the genus Proctotrupes two genera,
Proctotrupes and Disogmus, the type of the latter being
P. areolator, to which he adds three other species, as
follows :—

A. Fourth, fifth and sixth joints of the flagellum
dentate.
a. The tooth near the tip of each of these joints.
* First joint of the flagellum distin peeee than

the second. - - - discrepator.

‘#& First joint of the flagellum as long as the second. eequator.

b. The tooth in the middle of each of these joints. - areolator.

B. The above joints not dentate. - - . picicornis.
HELORIDE,

This family is limited to one genus, Helorus. Of this
Foerster observes that he has one species, H. anomalipes,
Panz., from the pupa of Hemerobius, and he distinguishes it
from the other species, as follows :—

A. Antenne luteous. - - - - ruficornis, Foerst.
B. Antenne black.
a. Scutum quite scabrous. Legs wholly black. _nigripes, Foerst.
b. Scutum quite smooth. Tibi and _ tarsi

luteous. - - - . anomalipes.

EMBOLEMID.

A. Eyes convex. Ocelli large. Basal joint of
the antenne shorter than the first joint of
the flagellum. Wings complete. . EMBOLEMUS.

F

34 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

B. Eyes quite flat. Ocelli very small. Basal
joint of the antenne much longer than
the first joint of the flagellum. Wings
rudimentary. = - - : - MyrmecomorPHa.

Myrmecomorpha corresponds with Pedinomma, Foerst.,
and is an earlier uname. I have found the species on which
it is founded under a stone near Chepstow.

BevrayLipsé.

A. Head without ocelli. - - - - SCLERODERMA.
B. Head with ocelli.
a. Wings without.a stigma.
** Wings with a stigmatic branch and a marginal
branch. - - - - - BrEtHYLUS.
** Wings with no marginal nor stigmatic branch.

+ Antenne 13-jointed. - - - ATELEOPTERUS.
t+ Antennee 12-jointed. - - - - HoLopeptus.
b. Wings with a stigma.

** Basal vein with a diverging branch.

+ Antenne 12-jointed. - - - - PERISEMUS.
t+ Antenne 13-jointed. - - - - Gon1ozus.
#2 Basal vein with no branch.

+ Furrows of the parapsides distinct. Abdominal

segments about equally long. -. - Epyris.
++ Furrows of the parapsides not apparent. Ab-
dominal segments unequally long. - - IJsoBracaium.

Foerster changes Scleroderma to Sclerochroa, because the
former name was previously used in Botany. Ateleopterus is
founded on Bethylus ateleopterus, Perisemus on B. triareo-
latus, Goniozus on B. clavipennis and on B. fuscipennis, and
Isobrachium on B. dichotomus: all these species were pre-
viously described by him, and B. dichotomus is a synonym
of B. fuscicornis, Nees (male), and of B. nigricornis, Nees
(female). The materials of this family do not agree well
together; a connection may be traced between them and the
Chrysidide.

DRYINIDE.
A. Vertex much compressed.
a. Winged. - - - : > Dryinus.
b. Wingless. — - - - - - GONATOPUS.

B. Vertex convex, not compressed.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 20

a. Hind head deeply excavated. Vertex and neck
separated by a sharp edge. - - - Lasro.
b. Hind head slightly concave. Vertex and neck
not parted by a sharp edge.
*« Fore tarsi of the female with long claws. Pro-
thorax of the male distinctly visible above,
not longer than the mesothorax.
+ Fourth joint of the fore tarsi of the female
much longer than the third. Prothorax of
the male and female as long or pearly as
long as the mesothorax. - - CHELOGYNUS.
tt Fourth joint of the fore tarsi of the fomale as
long as or a little longer than the third.
Prothorax of the male and female much
shorter than the mesothorax. - - ANTEON.
** Fore tarsi of the female without long claws.
Prothorax not visible above, or longer than
the mesothorax.
+ Prothorax much longer than the mesothorax.
Mesothorax with no trace of the furrows.
Wings short, spatulate. = - - - MysrropHorus.
++ Prothorax not or slightly visible above. Meso-
thorax wide, with distinct furrows. Wings
ample. - - - . . APHELOPUS.

There are no illustrations here of the Ceraphronida,
Diapridex, Belytide, Proctotrupide, and Heloride; they are
figured in Jurine’s ‘ Nouvelle Méthode.’ The Ceraphronide
come next to the Scelionida, and, like them, are distinguished
by the sculpture at the base of the abdomen, and by a simple
costal vein. The Diapridz, like the great part of the Platy-
gasteridx, have no wing-veins, or none beyond the base of
the wing. In the Belytide and Proctotrupidez there are
indications of an increase of bones in the wing, and this
increase is more extensive in the Heloride. The Dryinide
come last, and are distinguished by their rapid movement,
and by their mimicry of some of the aculeate Hymenoptera.

Additional notes on the preceding families, which conclude
the series of British Oxyura, are deferred till opportunity
occurs of examining in detail the genera and their respective
species.

Francis WALKER.

36 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Notes on the Wing-bones of the Two-winged Flies. By
Francis WALKER, Esq.

VEINS. AREOLETS,
g Subcostal vein. R_ Subcostal areolet.
k Radial vein. K Radial areolet.
ce Cubital vein. C’ Cubital areolet, 1st.
ce’ Cubital vein, 1st branch. C” Cubital areolet, 2nd.
e’’ Cubital vein, 2nd branch. B’ Prebrachial areolet.
ad’ Prebrachial vein, 1st branch. B” Pobrachial areolet.
d’”’ Prebrachial vein, 2nd branch. D_ Subapical areolet.
m Pobrachial vein, Ist branch. Y Anal areolet.

y Pobrachial vein, 2nd branch.
v Anal vein.

Figs. 1 & 2,—Diadocidia ferruginosa. Mycetobia pallipes.

Figs. 3 & 4.—Ditomyia annulata. Platyura.

C#

aL”
a’

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 37

Figs. 5 & 6.—Mycetophila. Macrocera.

uw

The above figures, and others which will follow, are from
the drawings of A. H. Haliday. The same letter refers to the
same parts in all the figures.

One of the chief attractions in noticing the Diptera is the
great variety of their manner of flight, and this corresponds
with the difference of structure in the wings. These variations
will be briefly traced in some notes, which are preceded by
the following extract from the MSS. of A. H. Haliday on the
same subject.

“The subcostal areolet lies between the costal vein and the
first longitudinal vein, usually the mediastinal (but if this vein
is effaced, then the subcostal).

“ The mediastinal areolet lies next beyond this, between the
mediastinal and subcostal veins; and if the mediastinal vein
is wanting there is no mediastinal areolet.

“ The radial areolet lies between the subcostal and radial
veins; if the latter divides into two branches at the end,
another radial areolet is enclosed between them; and in
either case, if the radial vein is connected with the subcostal
by a transverse vein, the radial areolet may be thus divided
into more than one. This areolet may become entirely closed
without extending to the margin, in case the radial vein
rejoins the subcostal before the end, as in Laphria, Volucella,
Hirmoneura, and Midas.

38 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

“The cubital areolet lies between the radial and cubital
veins; if the latter is branched a second cubital areolet is
enclosed between its branches, as is ordinary with many
families of Diptera, e.g. Tabanide. In this case, parti-
cularly, the cubital and radial veins are not uncommonly
joined by a transverse vein, forming a third cubital areolet.
When this is the case the direction of the veins may be so
modified as to make it doubtful whether the radial or cubital
vein be the one that is branched; but analogy to allied
genera will generally give a clue, even where the direction of
the veins is so far changed as to give the contrary appearance,
as in some of the Asilidz. Rarely the cubital vein also
returns to the subcostal, so that the cubital areolets do not
extend to the margin; this is the case in Hirmoneura and
in Midas.

** Before the prebrachial vein lies the prabrachial areolet,
bounded in front by portions of the (subcostal) radial and
cubital veins, or some of them, and at the tip by the
prebrachial transverse vein. Between the prebrachial and
pobrachial veins is the pobrachial areolet, usually bounded
at the tip by a more or less evidently oblique or transverse
vein (the pobrachial transverse vein), often in connection
with a twist or branching of the longitudinal veins. Between
the pobrachial and anal veins lies the anal areolet, which is
open to the margin when the subanal vein runs on as a con-
tinuation of the pobrachial, as in the Tipulide generally, and
in some other cases, but becomes closed when the subanal
vein runs to join the anal; either obliquely, as in Syrphide,
Conopide, Stratiomyde, Asilidea, and the neighbouring
families in general; or transversely, as in most Muscidae,
many Empide, and the Dolichopide. ‘These three areolets
(the preebrachial, pobrachial, anal), sometimes jointly called
the ternate areolets, can in most cases be determined from
the manner in which the conjugate axis divides into the
three veins,—prebrachial, pobrachial, and anal; and their
determination is of prime importance for the determination of
the others. A very characteristic areolet, also, when it is pre-
sent, is the discal, which (generally speaking) lies beyond the
prebrachial and pobrachial, commencing in the angle between
the tips of these two.

“The veins which run to the margin of the wing from the

j
;
|
:
|
i
j
4
:
i
t

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 39

prebrachial,.or the discal, and the pobrachial areolets,
scarcely admitting of any further classification, are compre-
hended under the general name of externo- medial veins, and
the areolets adjacent to them are called externo-medial, and
discriminated when necessary by their ordinal number, com-
mencing with that nearest the tip of the wing. This one only,
on account of the characters it affords, has received a peculiar
name (the subapical areolet) ; it lies immediately behind the
cubital areolet, and is bounded behind by a vein (the first of
the externo-medial veins), which is also, when it has to be
noticed, called subapical vein, or subapical portion of the
prebrachial vein, of which in most of these cases it appears
as the continuation. This subapical vein is often (Cyrtoneura,
Alophora, Hyalomyia, Conops, Pangonia, and many Syr-
phidz, &c.) curved, so as to meet the cubital vein and close
the subapical areolet before the margin (many Muscide,
Tachinini, Syrphide), or it is forked, and the anterior branch
runs obliquely towards or to the cubital vein, and becomes to
all intents a transverse vein (the subapical transverse), closing
the subapical areolet as before mentioned.

*¢ Sometimes another of the externo-medial areolets becomes
closed before the margin (as in many Asilidz, Cyrtus, &c.),
the last but one of the externo-medial veins running obliquely
or transversely to meet the last of them. In Nemestrina, and
a few allied forms, the areolets towards the posterior margin
and tip of the wing become so subdivided by supernumerary
veins that it is only by comparison with simpler forms that
we can trace the limits of the cubital area and the two
branches of the cubital vein, the externo-medial veins being
too complicated for any available denominations. But here,
also, the prebrachial, discal, pobrachial and anal areolets
being distinct, the boundaries of the externo-medial portion
of the wing are still defined. ‘The portion of the wing which
lies behind the anal vein and beyond the axillary lobe, or
sinus, is divided by the subaxillary vein into two open
areolets, the axillary before and the subaxillary behind that
vein, or if the vein be wanting the whole space is comprised
under the former of these.

“In general, it is easiest to trace out the analogy and apply
the nomenclature to the Diptera Brachycera. Among these,
having followed out the gradual simplification of the system

40 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

of veins and change in their direction, little difficulty arises
from such anomalies as an additional transverse vein, such as
subdivides the subapical areolet into two in Microdon, or the
pobrachial in Idioptera. The Hypocera are hardly to be
reduced with certainty to an analogous type, but the simpli-
city of the veining and the contrast between the strong veins
which end in the fore margin, and the faint ones (venule)
which run to the hind margin, allow of and recommend
a different and simple nomenclature.

“The Nemocera have a much greater variety in the veining
of the wings, and there is not a little difficulty in accommo-
dating to them the nomenclature used for the Brachycera,
partly from the multiplication of longitudinal veins, as in the
Psychodini, but yet more from the extreme faintness of the
veins in many, as in Simulia, and the ultimate disappearance
of all but one or two in the Cecidomyide. Still, apart from
these extreme cases, we may observe such a degree of gradual
modification of the veining in most as to be able to apply an
analogous nomenclature to at least some of the principal
veins, and by relation to them to denominate the rest;
although it may be doubted whether it is not best to employ
a different and simpler numerical nomenclature when the
veins become few in number, and the closed areolets nearly
null or insignificant. Rhyphus has been taken. as the type
by which to assimilate the nomenclature of the Nemocera to
the Brachycera, as it is scarcely possible to overlook the
analogy between Rhyphus and the Leptide and allied families
of the Brachycera. From Rhyphus the transition is not
difficult to the Tipulidz, and thence to the Culicida. From
the latter probably the Psychodini on the one hand, and the
Chironomide on the other, may be illustrated with sufficient
probability. The transition from the Tipulidz to the Myce-
tophilide is more abrupt; and these last, in respect to the
veining of the wings, not only undergo great diversities, but
present two manifest types separated by as abrupt an interval.
The first of these, characterized by the more or less complete
coalescence of the prebrachial and pobrachial areolets (Boli-
tophila, Thaumalea, Macrocera, Platyura, Ceroplatus, Dito-
myia, Asindulum, Diadocidia, Mycetobia), still preserves most

-analogy to the preceding family. The second, in which these
two areolets are separated by a strong prebrachial vein, but

a

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 4]

in which the pobrachial areolet is prolonged open to the hind
margin (Sciophila, Tetragoneura, Leia, Gnoriste, Myceto-
phila, Cordyla): this type extends from Sciara to Zygoneura
and Lestremia, and thence to Campylomyza and the Ceci-
domyiz, in which the simplicity of the veining least of all
admits or needs the application of the complicated nomen-
clature that may have been retained in the previous families.
The Bibionidz, in general, may perhaps be best illustrated
by a comparison with the first type of Mycetophilide (as
Platyura, &c.); see Rhyphus also; while Scatopse seems not
remote from the second type of that family, and Aspistes
presents a case almost as hard to the assumed type as is that
of the Diptera Hypocera.

“The Culicide and Psychodini have the cubital vein
simple, the radial forked. The Tipulide either have both
these veins simple (Limnobia, Rhipidia, Rhamphidia, Sym-
plecta, Idioptera), or the radial forked (Dixa),—Trichocera,
Anisomera, Limnephila, Tipula, Ctenophora, Pachyrina, Ne-
phrotoma, Erioptera, &c. In a very few cases (Ptychoptera,
Limnophila immaculata, &c.) the veins divide in such a way
that we must consider the radial as simple and the cubital
forked. In nearly all other cases, when either of these is
branched, it is the cubital, and this holds good among the
other Macrocera (as Mycetophilide of the first section, and
some Bibionide), as well as in the Brachycera. In ‘lipula
and the allied genera—Pachyrhina, Nephrotoma, Megistocera,
Ctenophora—there are five externo-medial areolets, of which
two are bebind the discal areolet, while in the rest,—Limno-
bia, Limnophila, Erioptera, Trichocera, Ptychoptera, &c.,—
whether the externo-medial areolets be four or five, only one
lies behind the discal areolet (which is sometimes wanting).
Generally the anal areolet is open to the margin in the
Nemocera, though there are a few exceptions (Eriocera
nigra, Macq., and Limnobia Trentepohlii, Wied.), and closed
in the Brachycera, or nearly so; and in the latter families
(Muscide, &c.), small and distant from the margin. In
Cylindrotoma, Macq. Dipt. pl. I. f. 15, the subcostal vein
seems to reunite with the radial before the end, the usual
termination of the former being probably obliterated, and
what is elsewhere a transverse vein connecting the subcostal
and radial, here appearing as the termination of the former.

G

42 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

“Of the three areas into which Latreille divides the wing
(exclusive of the extreme basilar area), the costal ends with
the cubital vein, or its hindmost branch, if branched. The
intermediate extends back from this to the anal vein, and the
internal occupies the rest behind the anal vein. The first of
these areas becomes very narrow in those Nemocera which
lead to Cecidomyia, and recedes more and more from the tip
of the wing, not the mediastinal alone, but the subcostal vein
often disappearing. In other cases, and generally where the
veining of the wing is most fully developed (Tabanide,
Asilidz), the costal area takes in the whole tip of the wing, |
though sometimes the intermediate area expands itself by the
curvature of veins as it reaches the margin (so in Midas, &c.).
The tip of the wing, therefore, may be considered as the
medium point of limit at the margin between the costal and
intermediate areas. When the costal vein vanishes without
being continued round the posterior margin, it most com-
monly ends at the end of the subapical vein.”

FRANCIS WALKER.

Additions to the List of Macro-Lepidoptera inhabiting
Guernsey and Sark. By W. A. Lurr.

(See Entom. yi. 375.)

THE following were, with one exception, taken during
1873.

Sesia Philanthiformis.—One specimen. Captured in
Guernsey on June 8th.

Nola cristulalis—One. June 17th, in Guernsey.

Metrocampa margaritaria.—Not uncommon in Guernsey.

Odontopera bidentata.—Mr. Tunley took one in Guern-
sey, May 27th.

Ennomos angularia. —Bred a specimen on August 20th.

Himera pennaria.—One. Taken at light, in Guernsey,
by Dr. Wakefield.

Nemoria viridata.—Beat several out of furze-bushes on
the Guernsey cliffs.

Acidalia trigeminata.—Several specimens taken in
Guernsey.

Macaria notata.—One specimen. Guernsey.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 43

Eupithecia subumbrata.—Not common in Guernsey.

E. nanata.—Several in Sark. ~

Anticlea rubidata.—My notice of Berberata (Entom. vi.
356) must apply to this species. Berberata occurs in Guern-
sey, but I have only seen one specimen.

A. badiata.—Not rare in Guernsey.

Leucania albipuncta.—I find I have included a specimen
of this insect amongst my series of Lithargyria. It was cap-
tured in 1871, on the flowers of the ragwort, in Guernsey.

Dasypolia Templii—Mr. Dawson took one at rest in a
conservatory, on November 20th, in Guernsey.

Axylia putris—Common in Guernsey and Sark.

Xylophasia lithoxyleaa—Common in Sark. I have taken
a Specimen in Guernsey.

Trigonophora empyrea.—A crippled specimen emerged
in my breeding-cage on September 27th. The larva was
found in Guernsey.
W. A. Lurr.

Guernsey.

Entomological Notes, Captures, Sc.

List of Insects taken at Glenarm, |873.—Smerinthus
Populi: bred. Bombyx Rubi: caterpillar, common on
heath, September. Agrotis porphyrea: common on heath,
September. Hybernia defoliaria: 9th December, 1873, by
light. Cheimatobia brumata: 9th December, 1873, by light.
Scotosia dubitata: 23rd November, 1873, hybernated females.
Cidaria miata: October, hybernated. Sphinx Convolvuli:

I saw a specimen of the above insect at Larne, about twelve
- miles from here, taken in September, 1873, by a miller, off
the wall of the mill; it was showed to me for the death’s-
head moth.—T7. Brunton; Glenarm Castle, Larne, Ireland.

Epunda lutulenta at West Wickham.—Referring to the
notice in the December number of the ‘Entomologist,’
wherein Mr. Forbes informs us that he took Epunda
lutulenta in his garden in September last, will you allow me
to say that in September, 1866, while sugaring in West
Wickham Wood with my friend Mr. Miller, we took one
specimen of this species.—J. Rt. Wellman; 14, Portland
Place North, Clapham Road, S.W., December 18, 1873.

44 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Anticlea sinuata in Hampshire-—The occurrence of a
specimen of this local insect—near Winchester, I believe—is
recorded in the August number of this journal (Entom. vi.
456). This specimen was taken on the 10th of July, 1873.
One evening, on the 30th of the same month, I was collecting
on the borders of the New Forest, taking a few of the pretty
little A. emarginata,—which, indeed, was about the only
species to be met with, for everything has been unusually
scarce this season,—and I was somewhat surprised to beat
out a very good specimen of A. sinuata from a bush of
hawthorn and bramble. I believe it is the first instance of its
occurrence in the neighbourhood of the New Forest; and,
although [ visited the locality several evenings after my
capture, I did not see another specimen. ‘The one I caught
is the first I ever saw alive.—G. B. Corbin.

Chauliodus cherophyllellus bred.—Towards the end of
August last I gathered a few larve of this species from off
the parsnep growing in my garden. The larva may be
detected on the under side of the leaf, near the tip, by giving
it a ragged appearance; it changes to pupa by making a
netted web on the leaf, and the insect appears in a week or
two afterwards. The larva is not much unlike that of
Xylopoda Fabriciana.—f. O. Standish; 402, High Street,
Cheltenham, November 30, 1878.

Cetonia aurata, or the Rose-beetle.—Not being a Coleop-
terist I do not know whether it will interest your readers to
know that, while digging round an old ash-tree for pupe of
Lepidoptera, I turned out from a decayed part of the tree
about a dozen of this beetle, each in a strongly-made earth-
cocoon, similar to that of Cucullia Verbasci, except that it
was free from web. May I askif it is usual for this pretty
beetle to hybernate in this singular way '—Jd.

[It had probably fed on the decayed wood of the ash, and
had emerged from the pupa state without flying. I do not
think it could be said to have hybernated.— EL. Newman.]

Carabus nitens in the New Forest.—During a day’s col-
lecting of Lepidoptera in the New Forest I caught two, and
saw several others, of this lovely ground-beetle. They were
running about in the sunshine on a boggy piece of heath,
and seemed to lose much of their activity if the weather
became cloudy. Is such a habit common to this species? as

ee ee ee eae

a

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 45

_we generally find that its relations, C. hortensis, C. viola-
ceus, &c., are lovers of the night rather than of sunshine, for
we often meet with ground-beetles when sugaring for Lepi-
doptera. Not being a collector of Coleoptera, I need hardly
state that I am unacquainted with the habits of the lovely
creatures included in that order. —G@. B. Corbin.

Aphilothrix Radicis.—After Mayr’s translated description
of the gall of this species, Mr. Walker says, “ This insect has
not been found in England,” &c. This J think must have
been an oversight, as Mr. Marshall includes it in his descrip-
tions of British Cynipide (Ent. Mo. Mag. vol. iv. p. 7); also
Mr. Miiller, in his list of British gall-insects (Ent. Ann. 1872,
p- 6); andI have myself found it at Shirley, in Surrey, and at
Rayleigh, in Essex. I believe it to be generally distributed
were it only looked for.—£. A. Fitch; Down Hall, Rayleigh,
Essex, January 3, 1874.

Hymenoptera reposing.—During the summer I saw what
I supposed was some species of wild bee attached to the end
of a blade of grass, and as the weather was dull and the wind
blowing somewhat briskly it was swayed backwards and
forwards, and continually buffetted by the surrounding
herbage, yet it held on firmly, without taking any apparent
notice of such rough usage, until I attempted to box it, when
it immediately flew away. I believe 1 have seen a record of
a similar occurrence in some journal, but I forget where. Is
such a habit of general occurrence, and what is the name of
the species possessing such a peculiarity, or are there more
than one? To all appearance the insect seemed asleep when
I first saw it in its peculiar swinging situation, but as soon as
I touched the blade of grass with my finger it flew away,
although I did not disturb it half so much as the wind had
previously done. I did not see tlie insect settle upon the grass-
stem, so I cannot say whether it crawls up, or at once settles
at the point, but it does seem a strange situation for an insect
to be “rocked to sleep;” but why should I call it strange,
when the peculiarities and economy of almost every insect
are so wonderfully interesting. Possibly this habit is well
known to those who have made the Hymenoptera their
especial study,—if, indeed, I am right in referring the insect
I saw to that order,—and who will, I hope, give us a fuller
account of the insect, or insects, which choose such a position

46 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

to rest (?) in, and under what conditions it is chosen !—
G. B. Corbin.

[This habit is very familiar to Hymenopterists; I have

observed it in several species of Nomada, and also in Chelo-
stoma florisomne. These observations have been frequently
recorded, and have been styled “roosting by the mandibular
process.”— Edward Newman.]

Lime-galls.—In the ‘ Fifth Annual Report on Insects of
the State of Missouri,’ by C. V. Riley, there is a figure
(p. 119) of a gall that grows on the vine-leaf, and the author
remarks that similar, but distinct, galls grow on the leaves of
hickory and hackberry. Each of these vine-galls contains a
pale orange larva, made by a Cecidomyia, which has not yet
been described. These galls exactly resemble the excrescences
which may be seen here and there on lime-leaves in England,
but no insects have been found in these excrescences, except
an Acarus, as was mentioned in a French publication, which
I cited many years ago in a notice on these formations. It is
uncertain whether this Acarus, or mite, is identical with one
or other of two kinds of mites which often occur under lime-
leaves,— the green Tetranychus Tiliarium, which | have before
spoken of, and the little white Acarus, which transfers to itself
‘the hollow remnants of the Aphides, whose contents have been
already appropriated by Aphidii. The round red gall on the
twigs of the lime is of more frequent occurrence than the
lanceolate formation before mentioned, and is inhabited by
the grub of Sciara tilicola, which leaves them and enters the
earth, and there assumes the imago state.— Francis Walker.

Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society
of London, November 17 to December 1, 1873.

Deilephila Euphorbie and Sphinx Pinastri at Harwich.
—Mr. Higgins exhibited two bred specimens of Deilephila
Euphorbiz (one a remarkable variety), and a Sphinx Pinastri,
taken near Harwich in June, 1872, when several specimens
of the former were found in the larva state.

Pachnobia alpina from Braemar, §c.—Mr. Champion
exhibited a bred specimen of Pachnobia alpina from Braemar ;
also Harpalus quadripunctatus from Braemar; Anisotoma

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 47

macropus from Claremont; A. pallens from Deal; Liosomus
Troglodytes from Faversham; and L. oblongulus from
Caterham.

Brachycentrus subnubilus Bred.—Mr. W. C. Boyd exhi-
bited living larve of Brachycentrus subnubilus, which had
been reared from the eggs. They fed upon Conferve, and
the cases constructed by them were clearly quadrangular
(though the angles were not prominent) and very diaphanous,
so that the movements of the larye could be discerned
within.

Pempelia Davisella Bred.—Mr. Vaughan exhibited Pem-
pelia Davisella reared from larva, feeding in a web, upon
shoots of Ulex.

Biorhiza aptera on Roots of Deodars.—Mr. Miiller re-
marked that at a meeting of the Scientific Committee of the
Royal Horticultural Society, on the 12th instant, Dr. Masters
had exhibited some galls found at Wimbledon on the roots
of Deodars. That gentleman had since submitted to him
further specimens of this gall, which he had found to agree,
in external and internal structure, with those of Biorhiza
aptera, Mad., usually occurring on roots of oak. Mr. Miiller
stated that he had since bred several specimens of Biorhiza
aptera from these Deodar galls, and that he believed it to
be the first instance where a true Cynips had been known to
transfer its attacks from oak to any species of Conifer.

Hybrid specimen of Clostera—Mr. Bond exhibited a
hybrid specimen between Clostera curtula and C. reclusa,
partaking of the characters of both parents.

Congregation of Psen.—Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited speci-
mens of a minute species of Psen, which he had observed in
large numbers in June last, on a pear-leaf at Lewes. They
had congregated together on the surface of the leaf like a
swarm of bees, though it was not apparent what motive
brought them together.

Humble-bees wanted for New Zealand.—Mr. Dunning
read some portions of a letter which he had received from
Mr. Nottidge, enclosing the Eighth Report of the Canterbury
(New Zealand) Acclimatization Society, and stating that the
red clover had been introduced into the colony, but that they
had no humble-bees to fertilize the plant. Also that certain
Lepidopterous insects had been accidentally imported into

48 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

the islands, and that corresponding ichneumons were wanted
to keep down their numbers. He would be glad of any
suggestions as to the best mode of introducing such humble-
bees and ichneumons into the colony, as might be requisite.
It was suggested that by procuring a sufficient number of
humble-bees in a dormant condition, and keeping them in
this state (by means of ice) during the voyage the result
might be attained.

No indigenous Aphides in New Zealand.—Mr. M‘Lachlan
mentioned that he had received a letter from Capt. Hutton,
from New Zealand, stating that indigenous Aphides did not,
apparently, exist there, but imported species were becoming
very destructive, and he asked if it would be possible to
introduce Chrysopa.—f’. G. [Selected by E. Newman. |

Proceedings of the South London Entomological Society,
January lst and 15th, 1874.

Mr. J. Jenner Weir exhibited two cases to illustrate
“ mimicry,” and explained the meaning of the word in its
relation to insects. The species included Papilio Merope, a
species of Heliconian, another of Pieris, together with the
various forms of Danaids, which they resemble (or mimic).
Amongst British insects Nemeobius Lucina may be said to
be a good representative of mimicry, as it closely resembles
Melitza Athalia, and is very unlike its congeners.

The President exhibited a case of bred specimens of
Cidaria russata from various parts of Britain.

Mr. Barrow exhibited two large species of Orthoptera from
the Cape of Good Hope.

Donations of the ‘Entomologist’ and ‘ Zoologist’ for
January, 1874, from Mr. Newman, and of a copy of ‘The
Origin and Metamorphoses of Insects,’ from Sir John Lub-
bock, Bart., M.P., were announced, and votes of thanks
passed to the donors.

Mr. Harris exhibited living specimens of Isotoma trifasciata
and Macrotoma plumbea.

Mr. Hoey exhibited the larve and pupze of Nonagria
geminipuncta, Leucania Phragmitidis, Sesia Tipuliformis,
and Tinea tapetzella—J. P. B.

‘
a
—

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

No. 127.]

MARCH, MDCCCLXXIV. [Prior 6d.

9
it)

Sy / ’ Ai y
> f AP, My, : is atin. OR

S il i IN, ii iitita Y

AnGYNNIS ADIPPE (MELANIC VARIETY: UPPER AND UNDER SIDES).

Variety of Argynnis Adippe.—I am indebted to Mr. C. 8.
Gregson for the loan of this beautiful specimen, which he
sent me purposely for figuring in the ‘ Entomologist.’ On the
upper side the costal margin itself is black, and immediately
beneath this is a narrow fulvous stripe extending from the

VOL, VII.

H

50 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

base of the wing nearly to its apex ; the distribution of fulvous
and black on the remainder of the wing is clearly indicated
in the figure, from which it will immediately be seen that
black greatly predominates ; the basal portion of the wing is
iridescent fulvous, and the colour extends along the inner
margin to the anal angle; on the hind wing the disk is
almost entirely black, the inner margin being tinged with
fulvous iridescence, and the hind margin having a double
series of. fulvous lunules. On the under side the central
portion of the fore wing is almost entirely black; the hind
wings have five silver spots about the base, but none on other
parts of the wing; the median diagonal series of silver spots
is entirely absent, but their position is indicated by a series
of obscure markings.— Edward Newman.

Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayvr’s
‘Die Mitteleuropidischen Hichengallen.’ By Miss Anna
WEISE.

II. BARK-GALLS.

THE three species next to be described are generally found
more or less covered with earth, moss, or dead leaves, on the
lowest parts of the stem, or on shoots growing out of the
ground; others only occur on that portion of last year’s
shoots which is above the ground: they are almost invariably
in clusters, and in two instances are perceptible only from the
unevenness of the bark or the incrassation of the twig.

Fig. 3. Aphilothrix Corticis.—Of this rare gall I

: have seen only a few clustered specimens. It

is of an obconical form, and swells about
seven or nine millemetres above the surface
of the bark of old oak-stems (probably of
Quercus sessiliflora or Q. pedunculata). The
aperture at the apex is from three and a half
to five millemetres in diameter; more than
half of the gall is sunk in the bark, which
seems to form a wall round it. It is hard, of
a brown colour, and somewhat cylindrical

A. CorTicis. jin shape, but more or less compressed: the
opening is sharply defined and nearly circular; within the
opening, and about a millemetre or a millemetre and a half
below the summit, is a convex septum,—thin, hard, and of

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 51

a yellowish colour; in the space between them and the
margin is a circle of scabrous points. In the interior is a
large larva-cell, and a hole in the convex septum shows
where the imago has escaped.—G. LZ. Mayr.

Aphilothrix Corticis is accompanied in the gall by Synergus
incrassatus, which has already been mentioned as a tenant in
the gall of Aphilothrix Radicis, and is one of the winter
species, Dr. Mayr having divided the Synergi into winter
flies and summer flies according to the time of their appear-
ance. The following note refers to the likeness of oak-galls
to organs of the oak. The differences of the parts of an
organism, such as the oak, and the means which successively
occasion these differences, are of much interest, as the result
of one agent,—the circulation in the living form. But the
differences between the kinds of oak-galls are more remark-
able: they are also the products of the circulation of the oak,
and therefore it would seem to be likely that they must
resemble the native products of that circulation; and such in
some kinds is the case. But two kinds of galls, quite different
in structure, may be found in close contiguity, or almost
connected, on the oak; and it remains to be ascertained
whether this difference is caused by the puncture, by the egg,
by the grub, or by the joint influence of these three.— Francis
Walker.

Aphilothrix Rhizomatis.—This occurs
partly under ground and partly on those
shoots which are but slightly raised above
the ground: a roughness or unevenness in
the bark is observable, and a crack or
furrow appears, in which the galls are
seated in sparse clusters: the visible por-
tion of each gall is conical or hemispherical,
or sometimes nearly oval, and of an ochreous
colour ; at the base of the cone are striz or
furrows, similar to those on the species next
to be described, but these vanish towards
the summit, where no trace of such striz
is perceptible ; the summit itself is rounded,
and is pierced in the centre by the imago
in making its escape. Each gall contains
one large larva-cell, the exposed portion of
which is from two to three millemetres in

A. RuIzoMATIs.

a THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

height, and 3°5 to 5°5 millemetres in diameter at the
base. Of this rare gall I have only one small branch, with a
number of galls on it: it seems to be found only on Quercus
sessiliflora or Q. pedunculata, as these are the only oaks
growing in Nassau, the country from which my specimen
was recorded.—G. L. Mayr.

No inquiline has been observed in this gall.— F#. Walker.

When nothing is said of the occurrence of the gall in
Britain, it is to be assumed that nothing has been recorded,
but we must on no account conclude that it is absent on this
ground, but that it has escaped observation. We have
scarcely a dozen entomologists who collect oak-galls, and
therefore many species will of necessity escape notice.—
Edward Newman.

APHILOTHRIX SIEBOLDI.

Aphilothrix Sieboldii.—This red or reddish brown gall is
found under or near the surface of the ground, on twigs that
are one centimetre or one anda half centimetre in diameter.
It seldom occurs alone, but numbers of them are usually
found crowded together, and the twig may possibly attain a
diameter of three centimetres. The gall itself is conical: it
stands from five to six millemetres in height, and its

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 538

diameter at the base is about the same, but is sometimes
narrower than this, and sometimes even broader; from
the base to the apex it is thickly and coarsely striped or
furrowed, and its surface is smooth. Single galls, or
those not very crowded, are perceptible on the outside on
short or uneven space of the bark, which latter, however, can
only be regarded as a ring, for the base of the gall penetrates
farther into the bark than the periphery, so that half of the
spacious larva-cell is below the circumference of the cone.
The substance of the gall is composed of two thinnish layers:
the outer one, of a reddish colour, is doubtless full of sap;
while the inner, which is yellowish, is hard and sharply
furrowed, from the circumference of the cone to the apex, in
a way that makes the furrows appear deeper at the circum-
ference than nearer the apex; the striz, or the outer layer,
unquestionably result from its adhering so closely to the
grooves and furrows of the inner layer during the slow process
of drying. In old galls the outer layer is generally cracked,
and we then only see the brownish yellow inner layer. In
this condition the deeper furrows round the periphery of the
cone appears as dots; the aperture through which the imago
makes its escape is on the side, and above the periphery of
the cone.

M. von Siebold has been so kind as to send me typical
specimens, found at Dantzig and Friebourg on Quercus
sessiliflora, and from these it appears that Professor Schenck
considers this gall to be that of Cynips corticalis of Hartig.
Now, as Hartig’s description of Corticalis is such that one
cannot distinguish it from A. Sieboldii; and, moreover, as
Hartig doubtless applies the reference to “Malpighi (op.
omn. tab. 17, fig. 60”), although the figure of the gall repre-
sents that of A. Sieboldii, 1 think it very probable that
C. corticalis and C. Sieboldii are synonyms of the same
species, and that Hartig, when describing his Corticalis, had
only ill-preserved specimens at his disposal. 1 therefore feel
justified in retaining the later name, since under that name
the gall is minutely described, and typical specimens have
been submitted to me for examination.—G. L. Mayr.

Synergus incrassatus inhabits this gall.—F. Walker.

I think it will be impossible for an entomologist to
examine attentively the beautiful figures of the bark-galls,

—.

o4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

produced by Aphilothrix Sieboldii, without perceiving their
very close correspondence with the small aborted acorns we

/ find so commonly on the long peduncles of Quercus pedun-
culatata. On these peduncles it is not unusual to find one

normally developed acorn near the base, and one, two, or
three aborted acorns beyond it, as though the first had
appropriated the sap destined for the nutriment of the others,
as well as its own. These aborted acorns are manifestly
represented by the galls in question, the stigma in both
instances being the only part of the acorn that protrudes
beyond the cup.—Kdward Newman.

The Synergi—or fellow-workers, or inquilines, or lodgers
—have been lately mentioned in the ‘ Entomologist, and a
short abstract of Dr. Mayr’s treatise on them may be of use
to the observers of galls. He praises Hartig’s work as being
a good foundation for the history of oak-gall-making flies,
but observes that the above author is less successful with
regard to the Synergi, which failure, he says, may be owing
to the great difficulty in determining the often very variable
species. He adds that these difficulties can only be over-
come by continual researches, and by complete and plentiful
materials brought together and well arranged. He next says
that he has particularly studied the lodgers for a series of
years, and mentions his examination of Hartig’s type speci-
mens, and the help he has received from correspondents, and
the division by Foerster of Hartig’s genus Synergus into two
genera, Synergus and Sapholytus, and notices the characters
of these two genera, and also of Ceroptre, Phanacis, Peri-
clistus, and Xenophanes. The genus Ceroptre, he says, is
interesting on account of its biology. He has reared from
C. arator, Hart., more than six hundred females, but not one
male; and of C. Cerri, Mayr, ninety-eight females, and only
four males, and he supposes that only some few females are
impregnated, but that the unfertilized also lay developing
eggs. He then defines two kinds of parthenogenesis: the
mixed parthenogenesis, of which C. Cerri is an example;
and the Thelykotik, or simple female parthenogenesis, repre-
sented by C. Arator. He next returns to the difficulty of
ascertaining the species of Synergus, owing to their great
variableness, of which S. melanopus, that lives in many
kinds of galls, is the chief example, and concludes that most

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 55

of the hitherto described species of Synergus have not been
clearly distinguished from each other. He has many proofs
that two certainly different kinds of lodgers live together in
one gall; and he gives in short the result of his observations
on C. lignicola. He isolated about four hundred galls of this
species. From most of these only the Cynips appeared; the
rest gave the following results :—sixteen galls produced only
Synergus melanopus; two, S. melanopus and a Eurytoma;
twenty-eight, only S. Hayneanus; five, S. Hayneanus, with
S. melanopus; two, only S. pallidipennis; three, S. palli-
cornis; one, §. pallicornis and §. melanopus; one, S. vul-
garis; two, the Cynips and S. melanopus; one large gall
produced the Cynips, seven examples of S. melanopus, and
one Eurytoma; four, the Cynips and S. pallicornis; and
lastly, two, a Pteromalus. In the galls from which the
Cynips and the Synergus appeared the cell of the first was
quite closed and normally formed, but the cells of the lodgers
were separate in the parenchyma. He mentions a gall of
C. cerricola, which afforded him in April nineteen examples
of S. thaumacera, and in May two of S. variabilis and three of
Eurytoma: these all came from one hole, the passage to
which was divided, and led from many chambers. It thus
seems that in general the contrivances of the lodgers cause
the death of the proprietor, for in sixty galls seven produced
the Cynips and the Synergus; the latter only or the parasite
proceeded from the rest, and the imprisonment of the Cynips
by the Synergus was first observed by Spinola. Life in these
kinds of galls may be divided into two parts,—the inner life
and the outer life,—the first represented by the Cynips and
its parasites, the latter by the Synergus and its attendants;
and the multiplying of the Cynips is not only limited by its
parasites, but by the Synergi in the outer life; and in case
the latter are the victims of other parasites, their habitations
are not the less obstacles to the emergence of the Cynips;
and the complications of life-forms in a gall are a little
epitome of biology generally, with regard to insects. Dr. Mayr
observes on the strangeness of the fact, and of its being
worthy of close study, that a Synergus lives in one kind of
gall three to four months, but in another kind a year or
more. The species which appear in winter are more nume-
rous than those which appear in summer, and those which are

56 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

disclosed in both seasons use one kind of gall for the winter
and another kind for the summer.—Francis Walker.

‘The Naturalist in Nicaragua:’ a Narrative of a Residence
at the Gold-mines of Chontales, in the Savannahs, and
Forests; with Observations on Animals and Plants in
reference to the Theory of Evolution of Living Furms.
By Tuomas BELT, F.G.S. London: John Murray, 1874.
Post 8vo; 404 pp. letterpress, and 26 Illustrations on
stone and wood.

[At Brighton anglers bait for mackerel with a bit of tin:
it glitters in the sun, and proves far more attractive to these
silly fishes than substantial, wholesome, and natural food.
Mr. Belt baits for Natural-History readers with “ evolution of
of living forms.” He evidently aims to capture a shoal of
naturalists, and considers this the most “kililng bait.” I
think he under-rates us; I think he*under-values our attain-
ments and our intelligence: we are not, like the mackerel, to
be caught by tin or tinsel; and this very announcement on
the title-page had well-nigh induced me to close the book
unread. Fortunately I did not, for ‘The Naturalist in
Nicaragua’ is a capital book,—brimful of information, and
worthy of attentive study by the most profound entomologist.
I have no space in this journal for an extended review, but
I will make some entomological extracts, which cannot fail
both to instruct and delight my readers, and will recommend
the book far more than anything I can write in its praise.—
Edward Newman. |

Ecitons, or Foraging Ants.—“I saw many large armies of
this, or a closely allied, species in the forest. My attention
was generally first called to them by the twittering of some
small birds, belonging to several different species, that follow
the ants in the woods. On approaching, a dense body of the
ants—three or four yards wide, and so numerous as to blacken
the ground—would be seen moving rapidly in one direction,
examining every cranny, and underneath every fallen leaf.
On the flanks, and in advance of the main body, smaller
columns would be pushed out; these smaller columns would
generally first flush the cockroaches, grasshoppers, and spiders.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 57

The pursued insects would rapidly make off, but many in their
confusion and terror would bound right into the midst of the
main body of ants. At first the grasshopper, when it found
itself in the midst of its enemies, would give vigorous leaps,
with perhaps two or three of the ants clinging to its legs; then
it would stop a moment to rest, and that moment would be
fatal, for the tiny foes would swarm over the prey; and after
a few more ineffectual struggles it would succumb to its fate,
and soon be bitten to pieces and carried off to the rear. The
greatest catch of the ants was, however, when they got
amongst some fallen brushwood: the cockroaches, spiders,
and other insects, instead of running right away, would
ascend the fallen branches and remain there, whilst the host
of ants were occupying all the ground below. By and bye up
would come some of the ants, following every branch, and
driving before them their prey to the ends of the small twigs,
when nothing remained for them but to leap, and they would
alight in the very throng of their foes, with the result of being
certainly caught and pulled to pieces. Many of the spiders
would escape by hanging suspended by a thread of silk from
the branches, safe from the foes that swarmed both above
and below.”—P. 18.

Leaf-cutting Anis.—“ Nearly all travellers in tropical
America have described the ravages of the leaf-cutting ants
(Gicodoma): their crowded, well-worn paths through the
forests; their ceaseless pertinacity in the spoliation of the
trees, more particularly of introduced speciés, which are left
bare and ragged, with the midribs and a few jagged points of
the leaves only left. After travelling for some hundreds of
yards, often for more than half a mile, the formicarium is
reached. It consists of low, wide mounds of brown, clayey-
looking earth, above and immediately around which the
bushes have been killed by their buds and leaves having
been persistently bitten off as they attempted to grow after
their first defoliation. Under high trees in the thick forest
the ants do not make their nests, because I believe the
ventilation of their under-ground galleries, about which they
are very particular, would be interfered with, and perhaps to
avoid the drip from the trees. It is on the outskirts of the
forest, or around clearings, or near wide roads that let in the
sun, that these formicariums are generally found: numerous

I

58 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

round tunnels, varying from half an inch to seven or eight
inches in diameter, lead down through the mounds of earth;
and many more, from some distance around, also lead under-
neath them. At some of the holes on the mounds ants will
be seen busily at work, bringing up little pellets of earth from
below and casting them down on the ever-increasing mounds,
so that its surface is nearly always fresh and new-looking.
Standing near the mounds one sees from every point of the
compass out-paths leading to them, all thronged with the busy
workers carrying their leafy burdens. As far as the eye can
distinguish their tiny forms troops upon troops of leaves are
moving up towards the central point, and disappearing down
the numerous tunnelled passages. The out-going, empty-
handed hosts are partly concealed amongst the bulky burdens
of the in-comers, and can only be distinguished by looking
closely amongst them. ‘The ceaseless, toiling hosts impress
one with their power, and one asks—What forests can stand
before such invaders? how is it that vegetation is not eaten
off the face of the earth? Surely nowhere but in the tropics,
where the recuperative powers of Nature are immense and
ever-active, could such devastation be withstood.”—P. 71.
Making Ants Mad.—“ Don Francisco Velasquez informed
me, in 1870, that he had a powder which made the ants mad,
so that they bit and destroyed each other. He gave me a
little of it, and it proved to be corrosive sublimate. I made
several trials of it, and found it most efficacious in turning a
large column of the ants; a little of it sprinkled across one of
their paths in dry weather has a most surprising effect: as
soon as one of the ants touches the white powder it com-
mences to run about wildly, and to attack any other ant it
comes across. Ina couple of hours round balls of the ants
will be found all biting each other, and numerous individuals
will be seen bitten completely in two, whilst others have lost
some of their legs or antenne. News of the commotion is
carried to the formicarium, and huge fellows, measuring
three-quarters of an inch in length, that only come out of the
nest during a migration or an attack on the nest or one of the
working columns, are seen stalking down with a determined
air, as if they would soon right matters. As soon, however,
as they have touched the sublimate all their stateliness leaves
them: they rush about, their legs are seized hold of by some

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 59

of the smaller ants already affected by the poison, and they
themselves begin to bite, and in a short time become the
centre of fresh balls of rabid ants. The sublimate can only
be used effectively in dry weather. At Colon I found the
Americans using coal-tar, which they spread across their
paths when any of them led to their gardens. I was also told
that the Indians prevent them from ascending young trees by
tying thick wisps of grass, with the sharp points downwards,
round the stem: the ants cannot pass through the wisp, and
do not find out how to surmount it, getting confused amongst
the numberless blades, all leading downwards.. I mention
these different plans of meeting and frustrating the attacks of
the ants at some length, as they are one of the greatest
scourges of tropical America, and it has been too readily
supposed that their attacks cannot be warded off. I myself
was enabled, by using some of the means mentioned above,
to cultivate successfully trees and vegetables of which the
ants were extremely fond.”—P. 78.

Spiders.—* Near the river were some fallen-down wooden
sheds, partly overgrown with a red-flowered vine: here a
large spider (Nephila) built strong yellow silken webs, joined
one on to the other, so as to make a complete curtain of web,
in which were entangled many large butterflies, generally
forest species, caught when flying across the clearing. I was
at first surprised to find that the kinds that frequent open
places were not caught, although they abounded on low,
white-flowered shrubs close to the webs; but, on getting
behind them and trying to frighten them within the silken
curtain, their instinct taught them to avoid it, for, although
startled, they threaded their way through open spaces and
between the webs with the greatest ease. It was one instance
of many I have noticed of the strong imstinct implanted in
insects to avoid their natural enemies.”—P. 108.

Spiders.—* * * * “To return to the spiders. Besides
the large owner and manufacturer of each web, who was
stationed near its centre, there were on the outskirts several
very small ones, belonging, | think, to two different species,
one of which was probably the male of a Thomisus, the males
in this genus being much smaller than the females. I some-
times threw a fly into one of the webs: the large spider would
seize it and commence sucking its blood; the small ones,

60 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

attracted by the sight of the prey, would advance cautiously
from the circumference, but generally stop short about half-
way up the web, evidently afraid to come within reach of the
owner, thus having to content themselves with looking at the
provisions, like hungry urchins nosing the windows of an
eating-house. Sometimes one would advance closer, but the
owner would, when it came within reach, quickly lift up one
of its feet and strike at it, like a feeding-horse kicking at
another that came near its provender, and the little intruder
would have to retire discomfited. These little spiders probably
feed on minute insects entangled in the web, too small for the
consideration of the huge owner, to whom they may be of
assistance in clearing the web.”—P. 110.

Tiger-beetles and Ants.—“In some parts brown tiger-
beetles ran or flew with great swiftness ; in others, leaf-cutting
ants in endless trains carried along their burdens of foliage,
looking, as they marched along with the segments of leaves
held up vertically, like green butterflies, or a mimic repre-
sentation of a moving Birnam Wood. Sometimes the chirping
of the ant-thrushes drew attention to where a great body of
army-ants were foraging amongst the fallen branches, sending
the spiders, cockroaches and grasshoppers fleeing for their
lives, only to fall victims to the surrounding birds. On the
fallen branches and logs I obtained many longicorn-beetles ;
the wood-cutters brought me many more; and from this
valley were obtained some of the rarest and finest species in
my collection. On the myrtle-like flowers of some of the
shrubs large green cockchafers were to be found during the
dry season, and bright green rosechafers were to be found
also common. I was surprised to find on two occasions a
green-and-brown bug (Pentatoma punicea) sucking the juices
from dead specimens of this species.”—P, 127.

Migrating Butterflies.—“ As we rode along great numbers
of a brown-tailed butterfly (Zimetes Chiron) were flying over
to the south-east: they occurred, as it were, in columns.
The air would be comparatively clear of them for a few
hundred yards, then we would pass through a band, perhaps
fifty yards in width, where hundreds were always in sight, and
all travelling one way. I took the direction several times
with a pocket-compass, and it was always south-east.
\ Amongst them were a few yellow butterflies, but these were

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 61

not so numerous as in former years. In some seasons these
migratory swarms of butterflies continue passing over to the
south-east for three to five weeks, and must consist of
millions upon millions of individuals, comprising many
different species and genera. The beautiful tailed green-
and-gilded day-flying moth (Urania Letlus) also join in this
annual movement.”—P. 152.

[It is curious that Mr. Belt, who has seen this beautiful
butterfly, should accept the strange hypothesis that it isa
moth. It is one of the moth-butterflies, or concealers
(Celantes), in which the caterpillars hide themselves in a
silken follicle, or cocoon, before changing into chrysalids.
All the skippers, or Hesperide, belong to the same natural
division. Edward Newman. |

The Bull’s-horn Thorn.—* These thorns are hollow, and
are tenanted by ants that make a small hole for their
entrance and exit near one end of the thorn, and also
burrow through the partition that separates the two horns, so
that the one entrance serves for both. Here they rear their
young; and in the wet season every one of the thorns is
tenanted, and hundreds of ants are be seen running about,
especially over the young leaves. If one of these be touched,
or a branch shaken, the little ants (Psewdomyrma bicolor,
Guer.) swarm out from the hollow thorns, and attack the
aggressor with jaws and sting. They sting severely, raising a
little white lump that does uot disappear in less than twenty-
four hours.”—P. 218.

Mimicry in a Spider.— On the leaves of the bushes there
were many curious species of Buprestide, and I struck these
and other beetles off with my net as I rode along. After one
such capture I observed what appeared to be one of the black
stinging-ants on the net: it was a small spider that closely
resembled an ant, and so perfect was the imitation that it was
not until [ killed it that I determined it was a spider, and that
1 need not be afraid of it stinging me. What added greatly
to the resemblance was that, unlike other spiders, it held up
its two fore legs like antennz, and moved them about just like
an ant. Other species of spiders closely resemble stinging-
ants: in all of them the body is drawn out long like an ant,
and in some the maxillary palpi are lengthened and thickened,
so as to resemble the head of one.”—P, 314.

62 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

List of Lepidoptera forwarded to Edward Newman by
G. F. MATHEW, Esgq., R.N.

[The names of the butterflies have been most kindly sup-
plied by Mr. Hewitson; those of the moths by Mr. Walker.
—Edward Newman.)

No. 22. Junonia Lavinia. Rio de Janeiro; Callao; Peru.
September, 1872 ; April, 1873.—Woods at Tijuca, near Rio,
and also near Callao and Lima. It is frequently seen alight-
ing in pathways or bare spots, where it rests with its wings
widely expanded and pressed close to the ground. I believe
I took the larve of this species near Lima, but they were not
full grown, and all perished on board ship, as I could not
procure their proper food in the immediate neighbourhood of
Callao.

No. 39. Anartia Amathea. Rio de Janeiro. September,
1872.—This pretty species is one of the most common
butterflies near Rio, haunting marshy ground in woody
places, where dozens of them may be seen flying about
together. They are very fond of chasing each other, and
usually fly slowly and near the ground, but when frightened
they go off at a very respectable pace.

No. 31. Hudamus Eurycles. Rio; Callao. September,
1872; April, 1873.—A common species. It flies rapidly,
after the manner of all skippers, and is found in woods and
waste places, where it delights to fly among long grass and
low underwood ; consequently the tails soon become damaged.
They are very pugnacious, chasing and fighting every other
butterfly, no matter its size, that comes within their reach.

No. 58. Agraulis Vanille. Rio; Callao. September,
1872; April, 1873.—I only saw half a dozen of this species
in a marshy piece of ground near Rio, but at Callao it was
very plentiful in grassy meadows. ‘There appears to be no
difference whatever between the specimens from each country.
The one enclosed is from Rio.

No. 92. Papilio Archemas. Valparaiso. November,
1872.—The largest butterfly found near Valparaiso, and it is
common, though local, in the valleys between the hills, and
also in the flat country near Vino del Mar and E] Salto. It
flies fast, is difficult to catch, and is seldom perfect. I have
worked out the life-history of this species. The specimen

ht

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 63

forwarded, which is slightly crippled, was bred at sea on the
7th inst., in lat. 35° 4’ N., long. 1619 1’ W., after having been
in the chrysalis state since November last.

No. 93. Pieris Xanthodice. Valparaiso. November, 1872.
—Common. I have partially worked out the life-history of
this species, and should have done so had we remained at
Valparaiso a few days longer. The larve feed on a wild
species of eress, and also in gardens on wallflower. Male
and female specimens are forwarded.

No. 94. Colias rutilans (male). Valparaiso. November,
1872.—Damp meadows at Limache, about thirty miles inland
from Valparaiso.

No. 98. Colias rutilans (female). Valparaiso. Novem-
ber, 1872.—Rather a scarce butterfly. Is it a variety or
female of No. 94? It is frequently found where No. 94 is
not.

No. 99. Hesperia paniscoides. Valparaiso. November,
1872.—Very common.

No. 100. Hesperia fulva. Valparaiso. November, 1872.
—Very common.

No. 103. Zhecla (new species). Valparaiso. November,
1872.—Scarce. Flies round the tops of bushes like a Thecla.

No. 105. Lycena chilensis. Valparaiso. November, 1872.
—Common. The female has an orange-coloured blotch in
the centre of the fore wings. :

No. 106. Same as No. 103. Valparaiso. November, 1872,
—Common in dry, grassy spots.

No. 116. Epinephele (new species). Valparaiso. Novem-
ber, 1872. Abundant everywhere. Habits similar to those
of 8. Tithonus.

No. 117. Satyrus chilensis. Valparaiso. November, 1872.
—Common. Seldom found below an elevation of eight
hundred feet. Habits of S. Semele.

No. 118. Epinephele (new species). Valparaiso. Novem-
ber, 1872.—Mountain gorges at a considerable elevation,
flying among a stunted description of cane.

No. 123. Satyrus Montrolii. Valparaiso. November,
1872.—Appeared towards the end of the month in woody
mountain gorges. Rather common.

No. 124. Hesperia fascivlata. Valparaiso. December,
1872.—E] Salto, about seven miles from Valparaiso. Not
common.

64 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

No. 125. Euptoieta Claudia. Valparaiso. December,
1872.—Limache and El Salto. Rare. Flies rather weakly.

No. 127. Callidryas Eubule (male and female). Val-
paraiso. December, 1872.—Tolerably common, but flies
fast and is difficult to catch. I have worked out the life-
history of this species, and bred several fine specimens.

No. 139. Epinephele (new species). Valparaiso. De-
cember, 1872.—Appeared towards the end of the-month, and
was by no means numerous.

No. 140. Terias Beigitta. Valparaiso. January, 1873.—
Common, but very local, and is a weak flyer.

No. 141. Syrichthus Americanus. Valparaiso. January,
1873.—Common, but extremely local. I have another
species (but only a single example) from Valparaiso, which
comes pretty near this one.

No. 169. Detlephila Daucus. Valparaiso. Various dates.
—A maritime species, and I have worked out its life-history.

No. 171. Ctenucha (new species). Coquimbo. March
1873.—These singular moths were very abundant in the
marshes between Coquimbo and La Serena. They fly straight
and rather heavily in the bright sunshine, carrying their
antenne aloft at right angles to their bodies, which gives
them a peculiar appearance. Their flight somewhat resembles
that of Anthrocera, but they are more active. A tall, umbel-
liferous plant, which was in blossom and grew in patches here
and there throughout the marshes, was much frequented by
them, and on approaching one of these patches the moths
flew off in clouds.

No. 172. New species. Arica; Peru. March, 1873.—
Habits and locality, where found, similar to the above; but
the insect was rare.

No. 179. New species. Arica; Payta; Peru. March,
1873.—Flies, after the fashion of a Thecla, round the
branches of an evergreen prickly and stunted bush growing
close to the beach.

No. 180. New species. Arica; Callao. March, 1873.—
Very abundant, especially in some lucerne fields, where they
occurred in countless thousands.

No. 182. Hesperia fasciolata. Arica; Callao. March,
1873.—This species also occurred in prodigious numbers,
and I often had a dozen or more in my net at a time.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 65

No. 183. Pieris Monuste. Callao. April, 1873.—Com-
mon. This species puzzles me, as I fancy there are two or
three closely allied, but distinct.

No. 184. Pieris Monuste. Callao. April, 1873.—Pro-
bably the female of No. 183.

No. 185. Anarlia Jatrophe. Callao. April, 1873.—This
pretty and delicate butterfly was common close to the town
of Callao; but although I caught plenty of them very few
were fit to set. 1 suspect they were just passing. In its
habits this species reminded me of V. Urtice. When dis-
turbed it flies for a short distance, and settles on the road or
a wall, and constantly expands and shuts its wings. Itisa
strong flyer.

No. 187. Thecla Marsyas. Callao. April, 1873.—This
lovely species was by no means uncommon in the neighbour-
hoods of Callao and Lima. Its habits are those of a Thecla.
Near Callao I obtained it flying round an evergreen shrub
growing from eight to ten feet high, possessing ovate-
lanceolate and slightly pubescent leaves, and bearing at the
tip of each of its branches a conglomerate bunch of mauve-
coloured flowers.

No. 189. New genus, new species. Valparaiso. Larve
taken in December, 1872.—Bred on board. Have worked
out the life-history of this species. .

No. 193. Hipparchia? Valparaiso. Larve taken in
January, 1873.—Bred on board. Took the larve of this
species at Limache, and have worked out its history. The
specimen forwarded is a small one, as some I have bred are
nearly twice the size.

No. 200. Acrea Alalia. Callao. April, 1873.—Have
worked out the life-history of this species. It is very abun-
dant at Callao, though local.

No. 212. New species. Callao. April, 1873.—This is,
I have no doubt, the male of No. 180, as they occurred
together.

No. 219. Hadena? (new species). Honolulu. June, 1873.
—This is the produce of what the Hawaiians term the
“army worm,” a larva which does great mischief to their
pasture lands; and the specimens sent herewith were bred
from larve taken by myself. ‘hese larva, which I observed
in incredible numbers, and which feed perfectly exposed,

K

66 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

vary slightly in colour. Their general hue is deep olive
velvety-green, with alternate stripes of madder-purple and
pale yellow; spiracles orange; head, prolegs and claspers
varying from madder-purple to sap-green. Some of the
larve were darker, and some paler than others. They
undergo pupation about an inch below the surface, where in
a brittle cocoon, composed of the surrounding earth, they
change to a bright reddish brown pupa. ‘The perfect insects
differ as much as the larve, as can be seen by the two
examples now forwarded. In some places, where the larve
had been feeding on the grassy uplands, I observed large
patches, which presented a dried and burnt-up appearance,
and which was caused by these “army worms” eating the
grass right down to the very roots. Sometimes while walking
I found it quite unpleasant, as it was impossible to avoid
crushing dozens of them at every step.

No. 226. Botys? (new species?) Honolulu. June, 1878.
—This species also occurs in immense numbers, and is said
to commit almost as much damage as the “army worm.”
They were not confined to any particular locality, but were
found everywhere, from the gardens in the town to the
summits of the lofty hills behind. The larve are of a dirty
white colour, with shining, reddish brown heads, and when
touched they wriggle themselves backwards vigorously. In
their habits they appeared to be semi-subterranean, as I
found them feeding on the root of grasses just on the level
with the surface of the ground, and they also feed, I was told,
on avariety of garden and other plants. Pupz of this species,
which I obtained under stones, were enclosed in a slight
silken web, and were of a pale reddish brown, and I bred
several of the perfect insects.

GrRVASE F. MATHEW.

H.M.S. “Repulse.” At sea.

Lat. 46° 39’ N. Long. 140° 18’ W.
July 19, 1873.

Captures of Hymenoptera in 1873. By F. Smiru, Esq.

For the information of entomologists who may be interested
in the study of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Great Britain, I
publish a record of the capture of species made during the

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. : 67

past year; also the locallties, and names of the captors. I
may also repeat that which | stated a few years ago, and
which has been fully corroborated by Mr. John B. Bridgman,
of Norwich, that the neighbourhood of that city is one of the
richest localities for Hymenoptera in Great Britain, particu-
larly Mousehold Heath, where the gentleman named has
captured the species of which a list is appended. This, it
should be observed, was the first season of his collecting the
order.

Captures on Mousehold Heath near Norwich.*—Hedy-
chrum lucidum * (July), Tiphia femorata* (August), Pompilus
fuscus (April), Ammophila sabulosa (April), A. viatica (April),
A. lutaria* a tee Gorytes mystaceus (June), Crabro cribra-
rius (June), C. patellatus (June), Oxybelus mucronatus,*
O. uniglumis, Diodontus minutus, D. luperus, Passaleecus
insignis, P. cornigera, Cemonus unicolor, C. lethifer, Cerceris
labiata,* C. ornata, Colletes succincta, C. Daviesana, Prosopis
signata, P. hyalinata, Sphecodes gibbus, S. rufescens, S.
ephippia, Halictus rubicundus, H.leucozonius, H.cylindricus,
H. albipes, H. Tumulorum, H. minutissimus, ‘Andrena cingu-
lata, A. thoracica,* A. vitrea,** A. albicans, A. helvola,
A. varians, A. atriceps, A. nigroenea, A. Trimmerana, A.
bimaculata,** A. nigriceps,* A. angustior, A. tridentata,*
A. minutula, A. Afzeliella, A. convexiuscula, A. xanthura,
Cilissa hcemorrhoidalis,* Panurgus Banksianus, Nomada
ruficornis, N. furva, N. lineola, N. Solidaginis, N. alternata,
N. succincta, Epeolus variegatus, Ceelioxys simplex, Melecta
armata, Osmia enea, Megachile centuncularis, M. maritima,*
Anthidium manicatum, Anthophora retusa, A. Acervorum,
Bombus Muscorum, B. Derhamellus, B. Pratorum, B. Lucorum,
B. terrestris, B. lapidarius, B. Latreillellus, B. subterraneus,
Apathus rupestris, A. vestalis, A. campestris, A. Barbutellus.

Another excellent locality is Litthke Hamptou, in Sussex. I
have frequently recorded the capture of rarities at this locality,
and I now give a list of species, taken in August last by
Mr. Edward Saunders.

Captures at Little Hampton.—Myrmosa melanocephala,
Pompilus exaltatus, P. agilis, P. pectinipes, P. plumbeus,*
Tachytes pompiliformis, Astata sigma,* * Ammophila vialica,
Cerceris arenaria, Mimesa bical eee ee lugubris,

* Local species marked with a *; rare species, *

68 . THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Crabro leucostoma, Stigmus pendulus,* Oxybelus uniglumis,
Crabro brevis, Nysson dimidiatus,* Chrysis ignita, Hedy-
chrum ardens, Prosopis hyalinatus, P. annularis, Colletes
fodiens, C. Daviesana, Halictus prasinus, H. albipes, H.
eylindricus, H. Tumulorum, H. longulus, H. minutissimus,
H. rubicundus, H. leucozonius, H. villosulus, H. morio,
H. minutus, Andrena labialis, A. Coitana, A. nana, A. fulvi-
crus, Megachile argentata,* M. centuncularis, Nomada flavo-
guttata, Cilissa leporina.*

Captures in the Island of Anglesea.—The following list
of species of aculeate Hymenoptera will prove to possess
some degree of interest, from the fact of its being probably
the first of such as inhabit the island of Anglesea. It is
certainly a very incomplete record of the Hymenopterous
Fauna of the island. During the month of August last I was
resident at Garth (Bangor), North Wales, but had few oppor-
tunities of collecting, as, with the exception of about four
days, rain fell heavily during portions of all the rest. All
the species enumerated were captured along the road-side,
between Garth Ferry and Beaumaris:—Formica rufa, F.
fusca, F. flava, Myrmica ruginodis, M. scabrinodis, Pompilus
gibbus, Ammophila sabulosa, Crabro dimidiata, Mimesa
bicolor, Harpactus tumidus, Mellinus sabulosus, Vespa ger-
manica, V. rufa, Prosopis hyalinatus, Sphecodes ephippia,
Halictus minutus, H. morio, H. rubicundus, Andrena
Gwynana, Apathus rupestris, A. campestris, Bombus Musco-
rum, B. senilis, B. Pratorum, B. Lucorum, B. terrestris,
B. Hortorum, B. lapidarius.

FREDERICK SMITH.
British Museum.

Entomological Notes, Captures, Sc.

Note on Eupithecia innotaria.—This distinct species,
formerly in our list, has been ignored as British by recent
writers, but is, nevertheless, a species well known to me,
occurring at Wallasey in the larva state on mugwort, in
September, along with the larva of E. succenturiata, and
being occasionally taken around the sand-hills in June: this
is, in my opinion, the Eupithecia egenaria of Mr. Doubleday’s
Catalogue; it is a variable species, like HE. expallidata in
form, but, unlike that species, it also varies in markings,

eet

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 69

varying from a long, narrow-winged insect, like Fraxinata
of Crewe, to the broader form of Egenaria, and varying much
in the intensity of its markings from a plain dull dim colour,
to a light ashy gray, with well-developed markings. My
remembrance of the fine, unique specimen of Egenaria, when
in Mr. Buxton’s collection, was not vivid enough to warrant
me in saying his insect was a large Innotaria, but I often said
I thought it was so; but on seeing his specimen again about
two years ago, and comparing Cheshire Innotaria with it, all
doubt in my mind vanished. I possess German Innotaria,
which in no way differ from English specimens in my
collection, either in colour, size, or markings; that is, they,
the German specimens, differ in size, colour, and markings,
as do our own.—C. S. Gregson; Rose Bank, Fletcher Grove,
Edge Lane, Liverpool, January 1, 1874.

Controlling. Sex in Lepidoptera.—As bearing somewhat
on the subject of “controlling sex by supply of food” in
insects, it may be worth while to give the following :—During
last summer I had a few larve of Exapate congelatella
feeding on privet: as I was greatly occupied with other
things they were neglected; the supply of food was very
irregularly given, and short in quantity, yet the moths
produced from them consisted of four males, full sized, and
eleven females, some of these latter being much below the
average of the species in size.—J. Li. Fletcher ; Pitmaston
Road, Worcester, February 2, 1874.

Thecla Quercus with an Orange Spot.—Last autumn [
took, with other specimens of purple hairstreaks, one female,
which differs from all the rest, in having a wedge-shaped
orange spot above the centre of each upper wing (on the
upper side of the wings) ; the small end of the orange wedge
is directed towards the tip of the wing, and the large end
towards the base of the wing. Is this an unusual variety? It
can hardly be a distinct species. I also took, by beating
some oaks, two larve of S. Fagi, and from birch two larve
which were more like D. pudibunda than any other species
that I am acquainted with, but they were of a grayish brown
colour (instead of a pale greenish yellow), with black incisions,
and golden brown tufts on 5th to 8th segments, and a purple
tuft on 12th segment. Is this a variety of D. pudibunda?—
Frank Norgate; Sparham, Norwich, December 29, 1873.

[Mr. Doubleday, to whom | have shown the note, considers

70 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

the presence of the orange spot accidental. He does not
mention ever having seen such avariety. It may be observed
that the late Mr. J. F. Stephens transposed the sexes of this
butterfly, describing male for female, and vice versd. The
variety of Pudibunda is not very uncommon; such specimens
are generally late ones.—Hdward Newman. |

Variety of Anthocharis Cardamines.—\ am indebted to
Mr. C. 8S. Gregson for the loan of this very abnormal speci-
men. Hemigynous specimens of this pretty species are
uncommon, but the sexes are usually separated at a mesial
line passing longitudinally down the body. This specimen
is much more remarkable: on the upper side. the left fore
wing is entirely male, the right fore wing entirely female ;
the hind wings are normal in colour. On the under side the
left fore wing is male, a pure white stripe occupying nearly
the whole of the costal margin, and a second white stripe
passing nearly through the middle of the wing, but being
interrupted by the central black spot; the right fore wing is
entirely female; the hind wings are normal in markings. The
peculiarity to which I particularly wish to invite attention, is
that either wing should be male on one side and female on
the other. The difficulty of representing the colour induced
me to abandon my intention of giving a figure.—EHdward
Newman.

Nest-building Hymenoptera.—Last season, when on an
entomological ramble in the New Forest, I found a wasp’s-
nest suspended from the branch of a beech shrub, about
eighteen inches from the ground. It was of a globular
form, nearly as large as a man’s head, and of a grayish hue
in colour. A closer inspection convinced me that the inmates
of this “nest” had no notion of my taking away their home,
much as I wished to possess it. This took place in July, so
I determined to leave it till the end of the summer; but a
subsequent visit revealed the fact of its having been torn to
pieces by some creature,—possibly a honey buzzard, as I saw
one of those noble birds not far from the spot where I first
found the “nest.” A few days ago I was in the meadows,
and in the grass I saw what I at first supposed was a mouse’s
nest: I took it in my hand, and at the same time I fancied I
heard a buzzing inside the ball-like structure. Having pulled
it to pieces, a humble bee of a yellowish colour made its
escape, and in the centre of the nest—which was chiefly

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 71

composed of the cottony flowers of the “spear”—was a
single cup-shaped waxen cell, nearly half an inch in diameter.
The humble bee, after making its escape from the soft mass
of material I held in my hand, circled round my head a few
times in the air, and then went directly to the spot in the
grass where I had taken the “nest” from, at the same time
buzzing loudly, and being apparently in great agitation as it
settled, and ran about amongst the blades of grass. Having
no net with me I could not capture it. I have before seen
similar occurrences to both I have here briefly described, so
that the facts are as “old as the hills;” but may I ask what
is the name of the respective builders, and did the humble
bee construct the nest itself?—G. B. Corbin.

[The larger nest, the wasp’s, was probably that of Vespa
britannica; the smaller one, a bee’s, that of Bombus
Sylvarum.—Hdward Newman. |

Note on Megasltigmus.—As I believe I have lately
made two mistakes in stating that Megastigmus giganteus
occurs in England, I wish to take the first opportunity
of rectifying them. ‘The first error is in the name, M. gigan-
teus, Kollar: it appears to be a synonym of Cleptes stigma,
Fabr. (ichneumon stigma, Fadr., olim.). The second error
is in the supposition that this species is a parasite of Cynips
Kollari: it is a parasite of C. argentea, and differs slightly,
though probably specifically, from the Megastigmus of
C. Caput-Medusz, and still more from that of C. Kollari.
This last Megastigmus has followed its prey into England,
and there are some other undetermined British species of the
green-back group of Megastigmus.—Francis Walker.

Entomological Pins.—I should be obliged to any readers
of the ‘Entomologist’ who would kindly inform me where I
can obtain pins measuring two-thirds of an inch in length,
and of the stoutness of No.10. Ihave met with several pins
of the size, but have failed to find out whence they were
obtained.—J. E. Fletcher ; Pitmaston Road, Worcester.

Proceedings of the South London Entomological Society,
January 29th and February 11th, 1874.
Donations announced.

Sir John Lubbock’s work on the ‘Collembola and Thy-
sanura ;’ from the author.

a THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Kirby and Spence’s ‘ Introduction to Entomology ;’ Mr.
Newman.
Exhibitions.

By the President, specimens of the rare Eupithecia
Irriguata and Consignata.

Mr. C. G. Barrett, some striking varieties of Russata and
Immanata.

Mr. O. E. Janson, a specimen of Agestrata orichalcea,
from Borneo, with ezght legs; also five examples of the
“learned beetle” Hypothcnemus eruditus: this species was
described by Professor Westwood forty years ago, and has
not been recorded since. Mr. Janson found his specimens in
the cover of a book, which was produced at the meeting.

Mr. Champion, specimens of Euryporus picipes, Lathro-
bium angustatum, Liosomus oblongulus, L. Troglodytes from
Faversham; also Cicones variegatus from Loughton; and
Melasis buprestoides, Strachia ornata (1), Conurus litoreus,
Bolitobius undulata, and other species, captured at Chatham
by Mr. J. J. Walker, of Sheerness.

Mr. Bull, Stenus major, and Anchomenus scitulus, taken at
Putney.

Paper read.

By Mr. Power, on the “Scales of the genus Phyllobius.”
He gave a description of the shape and sculpture of the
scales when viewed under a microscope, and showed that
each species could readily be distinguished by the scales
highly magnified figures were exhibited.—J. P. Barrett.

Newcastle-on-Tyne Entomological Society —The annual
meeting was held, on February 8rd, in the museum of the
Natural History Society, Mr. J. Hancock in the chair, who ex-
hibited two cases of Lepidoptera in fine preservation, collected

by himself in Switzerland during the summer of 1844; also ©

some fine specimens of beetles and moths from Africa and
South America. Mr. F. Raine exhibited specimens of
V. Antiopa, taken at Durham and Helmsly in 1872;
A. melanopa and other species, taken at Rannoch in 1873;
also several fine varieties, and a quantity of preserved larve.
W. Maling, Esq., was re-elected President.—J. Hamilton,
Secretary ; 13, Union Street, Newcastle, February 18, 1874.

eer on

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

No. 128.] APRIL, MDCCCLXXIV. [Price 6d.

Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayv’s

‘Die Mitteleuropaischen Eichengallen’ by Mrs. Hubert
HERKOMER née WEISE.

Fig. 6.

CYNIPS CERRICOLA!: a. CLUSTER OF GALLS.

b. SINGLE GALL SEEN FROM BEHIND.
c. SECTION OF THE SAME.

Cynips cerricola.—Notwithstanding the dissimilarity in

size and shape which is observable among specimens of this

gall, and also that it is sometimes in clusters and sometimes
VOL, VII. L

74 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

solitary, it may be easily distinguished by always occurring
on the bark of the Turkish oak (Quercus Cerris) in the form
of knobs, varying in size from a hempseed to a walnut. IRPfa
specimen be detached from the twig it may be plainly seen to
have been growing on the woody part, seated on a very short

pedicle, and to have raised up the bark in its immediate vicinity.

It is found singly on the most slender young shoots, in the form
of aspherical knob, or occasionally it has so enclosed the
twig that its protruding sides meet exactly opposite the point
of its attachment. On the larger twigs we find a great number
of these galls so crowded together that each becomes flattened
at the point of contact, and the mass thus formed surrounds
the twig in the form of an irregular band, that sometimes
extends to three centimeters in length and thickness. The
longitudinal fissure in the bark, through which these galls
have forced their way, may be readily perceived if one of the
size of a hempseed or a pea has happened to remain unde-
veloped, and to grow separately on a thicker twig. The galls
appear at midsummer, and are of a light green colour, and
more or less clothed with a short tomentum; later in the
autumn they assume a brownish yellow hue, and lose their
tomentum, more especially the larger ones, whilst the imma-
ture specimens often retain it. The interior of the gall
consists of a rather loose parenchyma: it is hollow in the
centre, and contains a moderately large, oval, inner gall,
which is seated at or near the base of the outer one; some-
times this is quite detached, at others it is loosely adherent to
the substance. In the smaller specimens, which only contain
parasites, this inner cell is not developed, and we frequently
find, as in several other species of galls, little oval cavities,
arranged in a radiating manner in the parenchyma, and these
serve as homes for the parasites. This gall is not deciduous,
and specimens two or three years old, and partly destroyed,
may be often met with on twigs. The perfect insect emerges
in December of its first year.—G. L. Mayr.

Cynips cerricola is accompanied by four inquilines, and
the distinctive characters of these, and of others of their tribe,
may be noticed on another occasion :—(1) Synergus variabilis
of Mayr—it appears from March to July in the second year;
(2) Synergus thaumacera of Dalman—April, second year;
(3) Sapholytus undulatus of Mayr—it appears in May and

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 75

June, second year; (4) Ceroptus Cerri of Mayr—it appears
from April to June, second year.—Francis Walker.

Dryocosmus cerriphilus. — This
rare gall is also found on the young
twigs of the Turkish oak (Quercus
Cerris). The galls are about the
size of a hempseed, and are attached
to one spot in the twig, quite sur-
rounding it, and more or less densely
crowded. Each gall, by means ofa
short pedicle, is inserted in the bark
of the twig, which, in consequence,
is thickened: sometimes the pedicle
becomes gradually lengthened, and
the gall terminates in a spherical
head, thus assuming a clavate form ;
the interior is occupied by a rather
large larva-cell. As I have never
seen the gall in a recent state, but
only on a two-year-old twig, in
company with similar old galls on
an oak that was about eighty years
of age, I should recommend the Dnrvyocosirus cERRIPHILUs.
reader to seek farther information
from Dr. Giraud’s ‘Signalements, &c., Ver. zool. bot. Ges.
1859,’ p. 354.—G. L. Mayr.

Dryocosmus cerriphilus has one inquiline, Synergus varia-
bilis of Mayr; it appears from April to June of the second
year.—Francis Walker.

Geographical Distribution of Continental Rhopalocera.
By the Rev. F. A. WALKER, M.A., F.I.S.

In compiling the following catalogue it must be understood
that I have only set down such species as fell under my own
personal observation. The statistics accordingly of each
locality, though greatly defective, may be relied on as far as
they go.

Bellagio and its environs.—1. Papilio Machaon: gardens
of Hotel Grande Bretagne, Villa Serbelloni, Villa Julia,

76 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Villa Melzi, Villa Vigoni, and at Gorla. 2. P. Podalirius:
gardens of Hotel Grande Bretagne, Villa Julia, Villa Melzi,
Villa Vigoni. 3. Pieris Brassice: Villa Vigoni, &c. 4. P.
Rape: Villa Vigoni, &c. 5. P. Napi: Villa Vigoni, &c.
6. Leucophasia Sinapis: at Gorla. 7. Gonepteryx Rhamni:
Villa Julia. 8. Colias Edusa: gardens of Villa Serbelloni,
Villa Julia, Villa Vigoni, and at Gorla. 9. C. Hyale: gar-
dens of Villa Serbelloni, Villa Julia, Villa Vigoni, and at
Gorla. 10. Limenitis Camilla: Villa Julia, on ivy blossoms.
11. Vanessa Io: Villa Julia. 12. V. Antiopa: just outside
Villa Vigoni. 13. V. Cardui: Villa Serbelloni. 14. V.
C-Album: lane leading to Villa Julia. 15. Argynnis La-
thonia: Villa Serbelloni, and at Gorla. 16. A. Paphia:
Villa Julia. 17. Melitea Athalia: Villa Julia. 18. M.
Didyma: Villa Julia. 19. Arge Galatea: at Gorla. ‘20. Sa-
tyrus Semele: at Gorla. 21. S. Mera: at Gorla. 22. S.
Megera: at Gorla. 23. S. Aigeria: outside of Villa Melzi.
24, Minois Phedra: at Gorla. 25. M. Hermione: at Gorla.
26. Hrebia Medea? at Gorla. 27. Chrysophanus Phleas:
Villa Julia. 28. C. : Villa Julia. 29. Pamphila Sao?
Gorla.

Neighbourhood of Geneva.—\. Papilio Machaon: fields
outside Geneva. 2. Colias Edusa: meadows adjoining the
meeting of the waters. 3. C. Hyale: meadows adjoining the
meeting of the waters. 4. Vanessa Atalanta: meadows ad-
joining the meeting of the waters. 5. V.C-Album: meadows
adjoining the meeting of the waters. 6. V. Cardui: waste
ground to left of Hotel des Bergues. 7. Argynnis Lathonia:
waste ground in the outskirts. 8. Melitaa Athalia: waste
ground to left of Hotel des Bergues. 9. M. Euphrosyne:
meadows adjoining meeting of waters, and waste ground to
left of Hotel des Bergues. 10. Satyrus Janira: meadows
adjoining meeting of waters.

Montreux.—1. Papilio Machaon: bank at landing-place.
2. Colias Hyale: bank at landing-place. 3. Leucophasia
Sinapis: bank at landing-place.

Villeneuve-—Ceenonympha Arcanius: upland meadows.
2. Arge Galatea: upland meadows. 3. Limenitis Sibylla:
upland meadows.

Neighbourhood of Brussels—1. Papilio Machaon: Sion |

Mount, Waterloo. 2. Argynnis Lathonia: Abbey of Villers
la Ville.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 77

Forest of Fontainbleau.—1. Argynnis Paphia. 2. A.
Niobe. 3. A. Aglaia: extremely abundant along sunny
drives. 4. Melitza Athalia. 5. Limenitis Sibylla. 6. Sa-
tyrus Mera. 7.8. Hyperanthus. 8. Coenonympha Arcanius:
extremely abundant along sunny drives. 9. Arge Galatea.
10. Thecla W-Album: extremely abundant along sunny
drives. 11. Aporia Crategi. 12. Pamphila Sylvanus.

Black Forest, Baden Baden.—1. Papilio Machaon. 2. Co-
lias Edusa. 3. C. Hyale. 4, Wanessa Antiopa. 5. V.
Prorsa (autumn type). 6. Argynnis Paphia. 7. A. Aglaia.
&. Melita Athalia. 9. Miuois Proserpina. 10. Satyrus
Aigeria. 1]. S. Janira. 12. S. Mera. 13. Polyommatus
Arion. 14. P. Corydon. 15. P. Adonis. 16. P. Alexis.
17. Chrysophanus Xanthe. 18. Vanessa C-Album.

Cologne.—Colias Hyale: abundant in meadows close to
suburb of Dentz.

Tiefenhasten.—1. Colias Edusa. 2. C. Hyale. 3. Sa-
tyrus Semele.

Julier Pass.—1. Colias Hyale. 2. Melitza. 3. Erebia
Pirene.

Schyn Pass.—1. Papilio Machaon. 2. Parnassius Apollo.
3. Satyrus Semele. 4. Minois Hermione(?). 5. Erebia
Pirene.

Pontresina.—1. Parnassius Apollo: Piz Languard, Ber-
nina Pass, road to Roseg glacier, and stony slopes above
Pontresina. 2. Colias Edusa: stony slopes above Pontresina.
3. C. Hyale: stony slopes above Pontresina. 4. C. Phico-
nome: stony slopes above Pontresina, and Piz Languard.
5. Pieris Callidice(?): stony slopes above Pontresina, Piz
Languard, and Bernina Pass, above Lago Rianco. 6. Ar-
gynnis Lathonia: Pontresina. 7. A. Adippe: road to Roseg
glacier. 8. A. Aglaia: road to Roseg glacier. 9. Melitza
Didyma: road to Roseg glacier. 10. M. Euphrosyne: road
to Roseg glacier. 11. M. Dia: Bernina Pass, and stony
slopes above Pontresina. 12. Polyommatus Corydon: road
to Roseg glacier. 13. P. Damon: road to Roseg glacier.
14, Chrysophanus Virgaurez : stony slopes above Poutresina,
and road to Roseg glacier. 15. Coenonympha Philea: Piz
Languard, and stony slopes above Pontresina. 16. Erebia
Pirene: road leading to Roseg glacier. 17. E. Euryale:
road leading to Roseg glacier. 18, E. Clio(?): road leading -

78 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

to Roseg glacier. 19. E. Melampus: road leading to Roseg
glacier, and road leading to Morteratsch glacier.
Chamounix.—1. Parnassius Apollo. 2. Aporia Crategi:
road by Geneva to Chamounix. 8. Coenonympha Philea:
Col de Voza. 4. Erebia Pirene. 5. E. Euryale. 6. E.
Melampus. 7. EK. Manto: Col de Voza and Montauvert.
8. E. ? Jardin, Mer de Glace. 9. Satyrus Mera:
neighbourhood of Chamounix. 10. Polyommatus Corydon:
road by Geneva to Chamounix. 11. P. Damon: road by
Geneva to Chamounix. 12. Chrysophanus Dorilis: Cha-
mounix. 13. C. Virgauree: Chamounix. 14. C. Chryseis:
Chamounix. I[5. Thecla Betula: Chamounix. 16. Pam-
phila Comma: Chamounix. 17. Argynnis Niobe: Chamounix.
Martigny.—1. Papilio Machaon: road between Martigny
and Great St. Bernard. 2. P. Podalirius: road between
Martigny and Sion, hovering over muddy puddles. 3. Par-
nassius Apollo: road between Martigny and Great St. Ber-
nard. 4. Colias Edusa: road between Martigny and Great
St. Bernard. 5. C. Hyale: road between Martigny and
Great St. Bernard. 6. Leucophasia Sinapis: osier beds,
near Martigny. 7. Limenitis Camilla: road between Mar-
tigny and Great St. Bernard. 8. Minois Actea: road
between Martigny and Great St. Bernard. 9. M. Hermione:
cliffs near Martigny, and road between Martigny and Great
St. Bernard. 10. Erebia Euryale: road between Martigny
and Great St. Bernard.: I) BH. Pirene: ditto. 12. ~H.
Stygne: ditto. 13. E.Goante: ditto. 14. E. Melampus:
ditto. 15. E. Neleus: ditto. 16. E. Mnestra: ditto. 17. E.
Clio (?): ditto. 18. E. Gorge(?): ditto. 19. Satyrus Hiera:
ditto. 20. S. Lycaon: ditto. 21. S. Mzra: ditto. 22. S.
Semele: ditto. 23. Polyommatus Corydon: road between
Martigny and Great St. Bernard, abundant hovering over
muddy puddles. 24. P. Damon: road between Martigny
and Great St. Bernard. 25. Chrysophanus Virgauree: road
between Martigny and Great St. Bernard, frequent on wild
thyme. 26. C. Chryseis: road between Martigny and Great
St. Bernard. 27. Erebia Manto. 28. Melitza Didyma.
29. M. Amathusia. 30. M. Phebe. And 31. M. ? ditto.
82. Vanessa C-Album: road between Martigny and Great
St. Bernard, and near railway station, Martigny. 33. Pam-
~ philus Comma: road between Martigny and Great St. Bernard.

.
‘

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 79

34. Argynnis Niobe: road between Martigny and Great
St. Bernard.

Sion.—1. Papilio Podalirius: steep rocks by Castle of
Sion. 2. Pieris Daplidice: steep rocks by Castle of Sion.
3. Minois Acta: steep rocks by Castle of Sion.

Jersey.—1. Pieris Daplidice: St. Ouen’s Bay. 2. Argynnis
Lathonia: St. Ouen’s Bay. 3. Satyrus Mera.

Wiesbaden.—1. Gonepteryx Rhamni: Russian cemetery.

Venice.—1. Colias Edusa: Botanical Gardens. 2. Va-
nessa Cardui: Botanical Gardens.

St. Malo.—1. Papilio Machaon.

Lucerne.—1. Argynnis Lathonia. 2. Vanessa Cardui.

It remains for me merely to supplement the above very
fragmentary data by stating that, as far as my own success in
collecting is concerned, I decidedly give the preference to the
Vallais over any other district. The foregoing facts stand for
what they are worth. My knowledge is too imperfect, and
my stay was too limited, in the localities mentioned, for me
to attempt an elaborate generalization, as regards the wide-
spread range of certain species, and the local occurrence or
total absence of others.

F. A. WALKER.

Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.

| Notes on the Red and Blue Varieties of G:dipoda Ger-
manica.—So far as my very imperfect knowledge of this
insect extends, its red and blue varieties are about equally
common, occurring, however, by no means in the same pro-
portion in each place, as while travelling on the Continent I
have observed the red alone almost exclusively in one spot,
and similarly the blue in another; while in a third locality I
have noticed both forms, though not in equal plenty. But as
mine are necessarily hurried notes of a passer through the
different countries where I remarked the said grasshopper, as,
for example, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Corsica, it is
not at all improbable but that a longer investigation, as well
as a more careful and further extended search, would succeed
in discovering the red, where I only found the blue, and
vice versd. The fact that both varieties are undoubtedly
found in one and the same place, would seem to preclude

80 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

altogether the idea which I once entertained, that their
respective tints were adapted, for the purpose of self-
protection and disguise, to the particular colour of the soil
that they inhabited. Notwithstanding, there is no ground, I
should imagine, for supposing that the discrepancy of their
hues constitutes them two distinct species, inasmuch as we
possess a similar instance of various colouring in the Heli-
conius Doris, of the Amazon region, where var. A has the
stripes on the lower wings of a bright brick-red, and var. B of
a slaty blue. I may remark that the upper wings of both
varieties are of very different shades, in the case of several
specimens that I observed and captured, being sometimes of
a uniform dark hue, occasionally variously mottled, and
others, again, indistinguishable in colour from the dust of the
road on which they were settled: a familiar instance in point,
I may observe, is furnished by the numerous tints of the
upper wings of our own common yellow underwing (Pronuba).
O. Germanica presents the same number of different tints of
upper wing, as far as I am aware, in red and blue varieties
alike, nor is there any mark in the said wings whereby one may
determine which of the two it is, until the insect is disturbed,
and flies upwards from its resting-place. However, it may be
noteworthy to add, with regard to the specimens in my own
collection, that a uniform dark tint is the most frequent form
of the upper wing of the red variety, whereas that of the blue
is more often variously mottled. 1 myself possess two speci-
mens of the red variety having the upper wings mottled, but
none of the blue that, in this respect, are dark. But it
is very likely that a series of this same insect in another
cabinet may tell a widely different tale, in reference to the
above particulars. I have now only one more point to notice,
namely, that in all my specimens of the red variety the black
band, which borders the red in the lower wings, extends to
the extreme margin of the same, whereas in the blue, without
exception, beyond the same black band, there is always “a
transparent piece of network.” I subjoin a list of localities,
where I have noticed both varieties of this insect :—Black
Forest, Baden Baden, August, 1857, only blue variety.
Mount Pilate, October, 1865, only red variety. Pontresina,
September, 1872, only red variety. Road to Roseg Glacier,
August, 1872, only red variety. Geneva, August, 1872, a few

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 81

of blue variety. Gorta (near Bellaggio), September, 1872, a
few red; mostly blue. Villa Julia, Bellaggio, September,
1872, only blue variety. Julier Pass, August, 1872, red and
blue varieties. Thusis, September, 1272, red and blue
varieties; red if anything more abundant. Lido, Venice,
October, 1872, only blue variety. Pineta, Ravenna, October,
1872, only blue variety. Bastia, October, 1872, red and blue
varieties. Ajaccio, October and November, 1872, red and
blue varieties; the red with only partially-developed wings,
notwithstanding the lateness of the season.—[{fev.] F.
Augustus Walker, M.A.; Dry Drayton Rectory, Cambridge.

Cnethocampa pityocampa said to occur in Kent.—You
will doubtless recollect a communication I made to you some
months ago respecting some strange pup which I found, and
the fritillary butterflies which I caught. I regretted that I
could not submit them to you at the time, as I had sucha
number of applicants, and such tempting offers, that 1 had
exchanged them away before I saw them announced in your
magazine, as I did not get the ‘Entomologist’ for that
month until the 14th, through a blunder, which the book-
seller, who supplies me with it, made: he got me the
‘Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine,’ which, though perhaps
more scientific, is not nearly so suitable as yours for a young
beginner in my position. I have now found a number of
some gregarious larve, which appear to be of the same kind
as the pupz were, as their cast skins resembled these, and
they were in the same clump of trees, and in pine trees in two
other spots in this neighbourhood, and I herewith send a few
for your examination: some of them are much larger than
these, but these are the only ones at present outside of the
silk nests they spin for themselves. I shall be extremely
obliged if you can inform me if they really are B. pro-
cessionea. Last summer I found a number of strange
pupe in an old magpie’s nest (Entom. vi. 487), which I
showed to an acquaintance, then living at Tunbridge Wells,
who had several fine cases of moths, and he told me that
he thought my pupe were B. processionea, and showed
me a moth which he called by that name. Some time after-
wards one of my pupe emerged, and the moth was like it,
but smaller and paler. On the 15th of this month, last
Sunday, I found some strange gregarious larva, inhabiting

M

82 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

large silken nests, on the same pine tree as I found the pupe,
and they are just like the cast skins that were with the above
pup; and I took some more, in a fresh spot, on the 17th:
they are the most curious and eccentric creatures I ever
saw. I keep them in an open box, which they do not seem
inclined to leave; and whenever they move about they
arrange themselves in the most perfect lines or processions,
generally singly; but this morning a large number of them were
moving about, four abreast, with the most perfect regularity
over the pine branches I have given them to feed upon, and
which they have already enveloped in a mass of very tough
white silk. They are of a grayish black ground colour, with
pale rings, arranged something like the rings on the larve of
Carpini: these rings are clothed thinly along the sides with
long white hairs, and along the back they are thickly set
with tufts of short hair of a bright orange colour; the head is
large, black, round, and rather oily-looking. This is the
description of the largest, but they vary in appearance, as
well as in size. They are most voracious eaters, and consume
large quantities of pine or Scotch fir—T. Batchelor; Yew
Tree Farm, Southborough, Kent, February 18, 1874.

PS. March 14.—The places where I find these larve are
some distance along the Penshurst Road: their head-quarters
is a wood of pine trees, called Ashew Wood, on a farm in the
occupation of my uncle; the firs are now being cut down, and
I find these larve on the top and upper branches of the fallen
trees.—T. B.

Cnethocampa pityocampa said to occur in Kent.—I shall
be greatly obliged if you will tell me the name of the enclosed
larva. 1 cannot find any description which at all accords
with them in your ‘ British Moths.’ I found them on the 4th,
feeding in batches, under cover of a white web, on some fir
trees, on Seal Chart, about three miles from Sevenoaks.—
W. Peyton; Seal, near Sevenoaks, Kent, March 6, 1874.

[I have printed these letters without altering a single
word, because I desire not to prejudice the case by any
opinion of mine. Mr. Doubleday has kindly given me
the name of the larve. Both instalments are of the same
species: it is Cnethocampa pityocampa. It assumes the
pupa state singly, on or just below the surface of the earth,
in a cocoon resembling that of the Cucullia. Mr. Doubleday

te ee c=

—_——e

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 83

adds that C. processionea spins up gregariously, in the web
previously inhabited by the caterpillar. I think it may be
interesting to add a few references to the history of Cnetho-
campa pityocampa. 1. Pliny, (C.S8.) ‘ Historia mundi natu-
ralis,’ lib. xxxvili. c. 9. 2. Mouffet, ‘Theatrum,’ p. 185.
38. Amoreux (P.J.), ‘Notice des Insectes de la France
reputé Venimeux,’ p. 158. 4. Kirby and Spence, ‘ Intro-
duction to Entomology, vol. i. p. 181: “Of this nature also
is the famous Pityocampa of the ancients, the moth of the fir
Lasiocampa pityocampa, the hairs of which are said to
occasion a very intense degree of pain, fever, heat, itching
and restlessness. It was accounted by the Romans a very
deleterious poison, as is evident from the circumstance of the
Cornelian law, ‘de Sicariis, being extended to persons who
administer Pityocampa.” Again, Kirby and Spence, ‘I. E.’
vol. il. p. 22: “ Equally amusing is the progress of another
moth, the Pityocampa, before noticed. They march together
from their common citadel, consisting of pine leaves united
and interwoven with silk which they spin, in a single line,
thus forming a series of living wreaths, which change their
shape every moment: all move with a uniform pace, no one
pressing too forward, or loitering behind; when one stops, all
stop, each defiling in exact military order.” And Réaumur
suggests that the singular anal patch of scales, resembling
those of the wings, but considerably larger, which is found in
the female of Cnethocampa pityocampa, is destined for the
purpose of covering her eggs. 5. Stephens, in his ‘ Illustra-
tions of British Entomology, Haustellata,’ vol. ii. p. 48, has
described Cnethocampa pityocampa as a British insect, on
the authority of a stunted specimen in the British Museum,
said to have been taken in Devonshire by the late Dr. Leach.
I ought to add that the account given by Mouffet in 1634, to
which I have referred above, is well worth an attentive
perusal, not only as a specimen of minute and accurate
description, but also as showing how ably and elegantly the
Latin language was employed in Natural History a century
before the invention of what is called the “language of
Science.”"-—Edward Newman.|

Swarming of a Brood of Winged Ants.—On the afternoon
of October 6th, at about 4 P.M., we were attracted to a part
of the large yard surrounding our home by a multitude of

84 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

large-sized insects that filled the air, and appeared to be
some unusual form of insect-life, judging of them from a
distance. On closer inspection these creatures proved to be
a brood of red ants (Formica) that had just emerged from
their under-ground home, and were now for the first time
using their delicate wings. The sky, at the time, was wholly
overcast; the wind strong, south-east; thermometer 66°
Fahr. Taking a favourable position near the mass, as they
slowly crawled from the ground up the blades of grass and
stems of clover and small weeds, we noticed, first, that they
seemed dazed, without any method in their movements, save
an ill-defined impression that they must go somewhere.
Again, they were pushed forward usually by those coming on
after them, which seemed to add to their confusion. As a
brood or colony of insects their every movement indicated
that they were wholly ill at ease. Once at the end of a
blade of grass, they seemed even more puzzled as to what to
do. If not followed by a fellow ant, as was usually the case,
they would invariably crawl down again to the earth, and
sometimes repeat this movement until a new comer followed
in the ascent, when the wncertain individual would be forced
to use his wings. This flight would be inaugurated by a very
rapid buzzing of the wings, as though to dry them, or prove
their owner’s power over them; but which, it is difficult to
say. After a short rest the violent movement of the wings
would recommence, and finally losing fear, as it were, the ant
would let go his hold upon the blade of grass and rise slowly
upwards. It could, in fact, searcely be called flight. The
steady vibration of the wings simply bore them upwards, ten,
twenty, or thirty feet, until they were caught by a breeze, or
by the steadier wind that was moving at an elevation equal
to the height of the surrounding pine and spruce trees. So
far as we were able to discover, their wings were of the same
use to them, in transporting them from their former home,
that the “wings” of many seeds are,—in scattering them;
both are wholly at the mercy of the winds. Mr. Bates, in
describing the habits of the Saiiba ants (Aicodoma cephalotes),
says (‘Naturalist on the River Amazons,’ vol. 1. p. 82) :—
“The successful débit of the winged males and females
depends likewise on the workers. It is amusing to see the
activity and excitement which reign in an ant’s nest when the

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 85

exodus of the winged individuals is taking place. The
workers clear the roads of exit, and show the most lively
interest in their departure, although it is highly improbable
that any of them will return to the same colony. The
swarming or exodus of the winged males and females of the
Saiiba ant takes place in January and February, that is, at
the commencement of the rainy season. They come out in
the evening in vast numbers, causing quite a commotion in
the streets and lanes.” We have quoted this passage from
Mr. Bates’ fascinating book because of the great similarity
and dissimilarity in the movements of the two species at this
period of their existence. Remembering, at the time, the
above remarks concerning the South American species, we
looked carefully for the workers, in this instance, and failed
to discover above a dozen wingless ants above ground, and
these were plodding about very indifferent, as it appeared to
us, to the fate or welfare of their winged brothers. On
digging down a few inches we could find but comparatively
few individuals in the nest, and could detect no movements
on their parts that referred to the exodus of winged indi-
viduals then going on. On the other hand, the time of day
agrees with the remarks of Mr. Bates. When we first
noticed them, about 4 p.M., they had probably just com-
menced their “ flight.” It continued until nearly 7 P.M., or a
considerable time after sundown. ‘The next morning there
was not an individual, winged or wingless, to be seen above
ground; the nest itself was comparatively empty; and what
few occupants there were seemed to be in a semi-torpid con-
dition. Were they simply resting after the fatigue and
excitement of yesterday? It was not possible for us to
calculate what proportion of these winged ants were carried
by the wind too far to return to their old home; but certainly
a large proportion were caught by the surrounding trees ;
and we found, on search, some of these crawling down the
trunks of the trees with their wings in a damaged condition.
How near the trees must be for them to reach their old home
we should like to learn; and what tells them “ which road to
take?” Dr. Duncan states (‘Transformations of Insects,
p- 205) :—“It was formerly supposed that the females which
alighted at a great distance from their old nests returned
again, but Huber, having great doubts upon this subject

86 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

found that some of them, after having left the males, fell on
to the ground in out-of-the-way places, whence they could
not possibly return to the original nest!” We unfortunately
did not note the sex of those individuals that we intercepted
in their return(?) trip; but we cannot help expressing our
belief that, at least, in this case, there was scarcely an
appreciable amount of “returning” on the part of those
whose exodus we have just described, although so many
were caught by the nearer trees and shrubbery. Is it
probable that these insects could find their way to a small
under-ground nest, where there was no “travel” in the
vicinity, other than the steady departure of individuals, who,
like themselves, were terribly bothered with the wings they
were carrying about with them?—C. C. Abbott; from the
‘ American Naturalist.’

Hints on Breeding Teniocampa opima, &c.—As very
many have failed to breed this species from the egg, possibly
a short account of the method I have found very successful
may be interesting to some: from a batch of eggs, kindly sent
by Mr. Owen, of Liverpool, April, 1873, about a hundred
larvee hatched on May 15th. They were placed in a three-
ounce wide-mouth bottle, with sprigs of broad-leaved willow:
tie over the mouth of the bottle with fine muslin, and then
place it mouth downwards ona shelf; this keeps the food
fresh, and allows a little air to enter. J found that a bottle
loosely filled with suitable sprigs kept perfectly fresh for a
week; now, as the young larve spin a quantity of silken
galleries, in which they rest and change their skins, it is
rather difficult to change their food without disturbing them,
and to avoid this, having filled asecond bottle of the same
size and character with food, untie and remove the muslin
from the neck of the first bottle, and place the two bottles
neck to neck. Securing them in this position, by binding a
strip of muslin two inches wide tightly round the rims of
them, the larve can now crawl from the stale to the fresh
food, without injuring or disturbing those that may be
changing their skins. After two or three days remove the
first bottle, and clean it out carefully, for repeating the
process when required. After the second change of skin it
Was necessary to divide my family into two separate bottles,
and work as before. After the third change, procure a large

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 87

earthen shallow pan, such as is used to stand flower-pots in,
and a horticultural glass to fit on it,—a bee glass is best;
half-fill the shallow pan with tolerably dry earth, on which to
rest the glass cover, and prevent escape of larve. The food
is plunged into wet sand contained in one of the smallest-
sized flower-pots, and pressed into the mould of the pan to
keep it steady, and introduce a layer of loose dry moss over
the mould inside the glass: this is important, as after the
fourth change the larve leave the food during the day, and hide
under the moss. By having a duplicate small flower-pot of
wet sand stuck full of fresh mature willow sprigs (I found young
succulent twigs droop directly), removing your glass, and in-
troducing the fresh pot of food, the change is done quickly,
without irritation to the caterpillars. By following this process
I succeeded in getting over ninety fine pupe, not losing more
than eight or ten from the egg. Owing possibly to my want
of care in not baking the earth I had placed for their
pupation, the chrysalids were attacked by a fungus, a species
of Spheria, which destroyed a great many before I discovered
it; but, by carefully washing them under running water, I
have now the satisfaction of breeding some beautiful speci-
mens for my pains. The quantity of leaves my family ate
was extraordinary; I never fed so voracious a lot before. I
had to walk two miles out to get good food for them, making
four miles each time, and had to repeat my walk ten times:
they gave me altogether a forty miles journey. The intro-
ducing moss with the food-plant of Noctuz larve I find
generally very successful. I bred Agrotis agathina so, last
August, getting a fine series. There may be no novelty in
the plan of breeding sketched out, but I can say that it
answers well. Mem.—Never place either larve or pupae,
when under the bee or horticultural glass, in the direct ray
of the sun, as too much heat is collected. This I proved to
my cost, killing one hundred or more pup of Geminipuncta
by so doing. —W. H. Tugwell; 8, Lewisham Road, Green-
wich, S.E.

Eupithecia innotata and E. egenaria (Entom. vii. 68).—
Although too unwell to pay much attention to Entomology at
the present time, I will pen a short reply to Mr. Gregson’s
note upon Eupithecia innotata and E.egenaria. 1| introduced
Innotata into our lists on the authority of worn specimens

88 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

given to me by the late Mr. Paget, of Yarmouth. The late
M. Becker saw these specimens the first time he paid me a
visit, and said they were Innotata. He promised to send me
German specimens, which he did soon after his return home,
and they appeared to agree with those captured by Mr. Paget.
Some years afterwards my friend, the Rev. H. Harpur Crewe,
bred a closely-allied species from Jarvee found on ash, which
he named Fraxinata. I then thought it possible that Mr.
Paget’s insects were this species, but I still entertained a
suspicion that M. Becker was right, and mentioned this to
some of my friends, and I think to Mr. Gregson some years
ago. I also said that the larve should be looked for on
Artemisia campestris, which grows abundantly on the sandy
heaths of Norfolk and Suffolk. Ihave bred Innotata from
larve sent me, from Cannes, by M. Milliére. If Mr. Gregson
has known for years that this species is found in Norfolk, I
am rather surprised that he has withheld the information so
long from his friends. I am quite certain that the Eupithecia
which Mr. Buxton sent me was not [nnotata: it was nota
“fine” specimen, one of the superior wings being consider-
ably damaged. I looked over Herrich-Scheeffer’s figures of
Kupithecia, and it appeared to me to agree better with that
of Egenaria than any other species. I then sent it to my
friend M. Guenée, who said that as far as he could judge
from a single specimen it was new to him, and that he had
never seen Egenaria. I then sent it to Herrich-Scheffer
himself, and he said it was his Egenaria, an insect of which
very little is known, as Dr. Staudinger doubtingly gives it as
a variety of Arceuthata.—Henry Doubleday ; Epping, March
18, 1874.

Argynnis Niobe.—My. Doubleday has called my attention to
a statement at p. 154 of the ‘ Entomologist’s Annual’ for 1874,
to the effect that as yet there is no evidence of the female of
Argynnis Niobe occurring in this country, whereas all the
reputed British specimens of Niobe are females: the sexes are
very different, and do not assimilate like the sexes of Adippe.
I believe all the reputed specimens of Niobe have passed
through my hands, some of them while still living, and
certainly they were females.—Hdward Newman.

Syntomis Phegea as a British Insect—The writer of an
article in the ‘ Entomologist’s Annual’ for 1874, p. 155, has

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 89

erroneously assumed the Mr. J. G. Batchelor, jun., who cap-
tured S. Phegea, near Folkestone, in 1872, to be the same
gentleman as Mr. T. Batchelor, of Yew Tree Farm, South-
borough, Kent, who last year reported A. Dia and B. proces-
sionea from his locality, and the writer implies a doubt as to
the genuineness of his statement. As I have personally known
Mr. J. G. Batchelor, of Reigate, for some twenty years, I can
fully vouch for the fact of S. Phegea being actually taken as
reported below, in his own words, in answer to a letter of
mine, asking details of his capture. He writes me :—“ I took
it (Phegea) on the coast, between Folkestone and Dover, on
the wing, about half-past twelve o’clock, July 24, 1872,
weather bright and hot; if it had not been for the yellow
band on the insect, I do not suppose I should have taken any
notice of it, as only butterflies and the larger moths attract
any attention from me.” Although this may be a unique and
unlooked-for capture in England, there is not the slightest
doubt as to the fact as reported.—_W. H. Tugwell; Green-
wich, March 23, 1874.

Butterflies in Newfoundland at Christmas.— Twelve
months since I chronicled in the ‘Field’ newspaper four
species of butterflies, namely, V. lo, V. Polychloros, V. Ur-
tice, and G. Rhamni, on wing here, on December 26th. A
short time since I heard from one of the settlers at Cow Head,
Newfoundland, who incidentally mentioned that “last Christ-
mas Day (1872) a shower of white butterflies fell” there!
This, therefore, is the day preceding that on which the
butterflies were observed on wing in this neighbourhood. My
informant unfortunately neglected to note the temperature,
although I left a thermometer there expressly for that purpose.
_ Of course the weather must have been remarkably mild. The
mean temperature of that part of Newfoundland at Christmas
would average about 15° above zero.—Henry Reeks.

Vanessa Polychloros in Norlthumberland.—\ have the
pleasure to report the occurrence of the large tortoiseshell
butterfly (Vanessa Polychloros) in this county. A specimen
was found yesterday (March 20th) by Mr. M. Henderson, of
this town, on the floor of the chapel in All Saints’ Cemetery,
near the town. When I saw it to-day it was in a semi-
dormant state, and had no doubt hybernated among the
rafters in the roof of the chapel. I believe this is the only
really authentic capture of this butterfly in the county of

N

90 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Northumberland; and the neighbouring county of Durham
can only boast of two instances in which it has been met
with, namely, at Whitburn, by Mr. John Hancock, on July
23rd, 1858, and by Mr. J. Sang, at Darlington — W. Maling ;
22, Jesmond Road, Newcasile-on-Tyne, March 21, 1874.

Description of the Larva of Zygena Trifolit.—Karly in
July last I received a number of cocoons and three larve of
this species from the Rev. A. C. Hervey, of Pokesdown. The
latter were of the usual Zygena shape; when at rest about
five-eighths, but when crawling nearly an inch in length.
Ground colour yellowish green; the head black and shining,
with a streak of gray above the mandibles. There are two
longitudinal rows of black marks on the dorsal area, each
segment containing four of these marks; there is another
row of similar, but smaller, marks between the subdorsal and
spiracular regions; and an interrupted smoky stripe along
the region of the spiracles. The segmental divisions are
yellow, and expand into conspicuous yellow marks along the
sides, these marks being on the posterior [part] of each
segment, between the two rows,of black marks. The ventral
surface is dingy, yellowish green, with smoky central line.
Skin soft, and clothed sparingly with very short gray hairs.
Moths emerged during the latter part of July.—Geo. T.
Porritt ; Huddersfield, January 9, 1874.

[Will Mr. Porritt kindly inform the readers of the ‘ Ento-
mologist’ how these larve may be preserved through the
winter? I have often hatched the eggs of a five-spot burnet,
and have watched their entrance into this world, and found
they will immediately distribute themselves over the leaves of
any leguminous plant provided for them; this lasts for a few
days only: if you hold up the food on which they are feeding
and give it a sharp tap, the infant larve fall about five or six
inches, but always secure themselves by a thread, and thus
swing suspended like a family of recently-hatched spiders.
They soon regain their standing, and nibble little holes in the
leaves; but 1 have always lost them in the winter.—Edward
Newman. |

Halonota Grandevana at Hartlepool.—A few months
ago Mr. Gardner, of Hartlepool, sent a box of Micro-
Lepidoptera for my acceptance: among them was a speci-
men of Grandevana; it appears rather an old one, and
no doubt it has been in existence before the species was

ee,

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 91

added to our list. I had placed it among my Pecilochroma
as a new species, until I sent it to Mr. Stainton, and he
returned it as H. Grandevana.—J. B. Hodgkinson; 15,
Spring Bank, Preston, March 7, 1874.

Phigalia pilosaria.—One emerged on the 7th and another
on the 14th inst. Mr. Newman says the larva feeds upon the
oak, but what I have taken in pupe have been dug up from
under the elm, as I keep them all in separate boxes. -I
believe the larve are pinkish brown, but of that Iam not
quite certain at present.—S. Bradbury; Uttoxeter.

[I have received specimens of Phigalia pilosaria at rather
unusual dates during the past winter: one in November,
three in December, two in January, and several in February.
—Edward Newman. |

Testaceous Specimen of Hylurgus piniperda.—On the 5th
September, 1873, I found an entirely testaceous specimen of
(apparently) Hylurgus or Dendroctonus. What species is
it? We find about here a species of Dendroctonus, answer-
ing exactly to Dendroctonus piniperda. What species is it?
We also find another species of the same genus (apparently),
but with the elytra and part of the thorax ferruginous on the
top, looking as if it had been rubbed. What species is it?
The last two are common; of the first only one was found,
and that by myself.—John Grubb; Newtown School, Water-
ford, February 24, 1874.

[The testaceous insect is probably an immature specimen
of Hylurgus piniperda. I cannot venture to name the others.
—Edward Newman. |

Eriogaster lanestris Five Winters in the Pupa State.—I
bred out a pair of this insect on March 18th, 1874, the same
having gone into pupa on July 8th, 1869, thus passing five
winters in the pupa state. I have a few more pupe, which
still show no signs of coming out.—[Rev.] A. C. Hervey;
Pokesdown, Bournemouth.

Ichneumonideous Parasite on a Boarmia Larva.—Will you
kindly inform me what the enclosed is caused by? 1 find
some of them every year on my Clematis. Last year I had a
larva, which I supposed to be that of Rhomboidaria: it grew
enormously for a time, but eventually died; and I found two
of these combs protruding from the skin, as though caused
by an Ichneumon.—[Rev.] EL. H. Lyles; Enfield.

[The curious objects which accompanied this are the

92 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

elegant combs of a minute Ichneumon, Microgaster alvearius,
the specific name being given in allusion to their wonderful
resemblance to pieces of honeycomb: each cell contains a
parasite, either in the state of larva, pupa, or imago.—
Edward Newman.)

On Oak-leaf Insects.—The strength of the oak is propor-
tioned to its trials or sufferings, and they are many and great,
and the last, though not the least, of them in this country is
the fly that deprives it of its offspring, and substitutes a
changeling for a babe,—for acorns may be observed to be few
or none where Devon-galls are many. One of the oak’s little
trials is the Phylloxera, of which at this season there are
indications beneath one oak-leaf of the former presence of
a thousand individuals, and a large Hemerobid larva, under
the same leaf, accounted for their absence, and would have
probably soon gleaned up the little remnant, about ten in
number, that was left. In addition to the three species of
insects before mentioned, a little Callimome at this season
takes part in the economy of the spangle by committing to it
an egg, and seems to be very rare as compared with the
spangles; these are very variable as to their occurrence:
some leaves are quite unspangled, others have only a few
rosy spangles; other leaves are covered beneath with two
hundred or three hundred beginning-spangles, not so large
as the head of a very small pin. The full-grown spangles
increase the beauty of the foliage at this time by adding to
the diversity of its tints, sometimes by yellow marks ; in other
cases, when they are in excessive abundance, by causing the
leaf to curl up and to display the under side, which is wholly
rusty red by means of the spangles. ‘The immense profusion
of these is balanced by the fall of the leaf, which is previous
to the swelling of the spangle and to the consequent growth
of the enclosed grubs, and their increase is probably promoted
by the destruction of birds and of other agents by which they
are consumed. The little oak-button, formed by Neuroterus
Numismatis, is sometimes thinly or thickly intermingled with
the spangle, and sometimes has the whole of the under surface
of the leaf to itself. The slug-like glutinous green grub of
Blennocampa stramineipes is at this season stripping off by its
jaws the covering of the oak-leaf with exceeding neatness,
and leaving the skeleton quite transparent, with all the veins

‘untouched.—Francis Walker.

|

a

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 93

Goureau’s Observations on Parasitism.—A few more
extracts from Goureau’s observations on parasitism may be
added as an indication of what is likely to be remarked in
England with regard to the same insects. Platygaster scutel-
laris, Nees (male = muticus, Nees fem.), is parasitic on
Cecidomyia 'Tritici; also a species of Coleocentrus lays its
eggs outside those of the Cecidomyia, and its larva devours
twenty larve of the latter. From the three Micro-Lepi-
doptera, Yponomeuta Padella, Y. Malinella, and Y. Evony-
mella, Goureau obtained Pimpla_ scanica, Ichneumon
brunnicornis, Campoplex sordidus, Anomalon tenuicorne,
Mesochorus splendidulus, Encyrtus fuscicollis (which comes
by hundreds out of a single caterpillar or pupa), and
Eurygaster (Erythrzus) pomariorum; the grub of the latter
lives in the nest, and devours successively larve and pupe.
He also mentions one specimen of Eulophus Cervus, which
he does not describe.—Ffrancis Walker.

Acanthocinus Afdilis.—Acanthocinus Adilis is the name
of the beetle sent by Mr. Sclater, of Castle Eden. I am
obliged for it.—EHdward Newman.

Aphilothrix Sieboldit in England.—I send for your
acceptance a few galls, which I think you will find to be one
of the species mentioned in the ‘ Entomologist’ for March,—
most likely A. Sieboldii. I also enclose the three imagos
that I reared from them. Early in January, 1873, I found the
above on the small twigs of an oak, which had been repeat-
edly cut down, and was growing in a hedge-bank. ‘They
were near the bank, covered with dead leaves, but not under
the mould. The galls were quite new to me, and most of them
were empty ; but finding a few of them unbroken, I took them
home, corked them up in a glass, and, I think, in May the
three imagos emerged. ‘The empty galls may have been old
ones, but [ at the time thought that most of the flies had
escaped during the autumn of 1872. You will observe that
the galls are very sparingly distributed over the branch, and
not clustered. If they turn out to be one of the species of
Aphilothrix, I will hunt them up, and perhaps I may find
better specimens.—Henry Moncreaff; High Street, Ports-
mouth, March 2, 1874.

[There can be no doubt that these galls are those of
Aphilothrix Sieboldii, and Mr. Moncreaft’s communication
is particularly interesting as showing, first, that the range of

94 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

this species extends to Britain, and, secondly, as positively
connecting the gall with the gall-maker; probably, however,
the name of A. Corticis, which has the claim of priority, will
supersede. that of A. Sieboldii. The species appear to be
identical— Edward Newman. |

Rose-galls.—1 have by me an American rose-gall, of which
the English rose-gall, about to be mentioned, is a little repre-
sentative. The latter is inhabited by Rhodites Rosarum of
Giraud, and, like the former, which nourishes Rhodites bicolor
of Harris, is distinguished by its elegance, and it has gene-
rally the shape of a little spine-set ball, and its spines are red
like the spines of the briar, and sometimes it has not a pea-
shape, but is merely a swelling of the basal part of the spine.
In this state it is with other spines, but in its round form it
occurs on the surface or on the edge of a leaf, and is only
indicative of the spines, which, like other spines and thorns,
are said to be merely rolled-up leaves. With this gall there
is another little one without spines; it is made by Rhodites
Eglanteriz of Hartig, and much resembles the Rosa spino-
sissima gall, in which Rhodites spinosissime of Giraud is
reared; but more may be said on this matter in a future
note on rose-galls.— Francis Walker.

Correction of an Error.—\ am sorry I have to con-
tradict my notice of the capture of Plusia Interrogationis
(Entom. vii. 23). It proved to be P. Pulchrina, a species I
had never seen. Mr. N. F. Dobrée, upon seeing it, instantly
discovered my mistake; and I should not like knowingly to
add one to the long lists of “rarities,” whose history is, to
say the least of it, doubtful—Geo. R. Dawson; Pounds-
worth, Driffield, March 20, 1874.

Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society
of London, January 5 to February 3, 1874.

Photographs of Insects taken with Camera Obscura.
Mr. Mendola exhibited some photographs of minute insects
taken with the camera obscura and microscope.

A Bombyx with Aquatic Larva.—Mr. M‘Lachlan called
attention to a paper in the last part of the ‘Annales de la
Sociéte Entomologique de France,’ by M. Bar and Dr.
Laboulbéne, on a species of a Bombycidz closely related to
the tiger-moths described and figured by M. Bar as Palustra

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 95

Laboulbenei, and of very extraordinary habits, the larva being
aquatic, living in the canals of the sugar plantations in
Cayenne, and feeding upon an aquatic plant. ‘The hairy
larva had all the form usual for the group, and breathed by
means of small spiracles,—a supply of air being apparently
entangled in its hairs. The cocoons were joined together in
little masses floating on the surface of the water.

Olivierian Collection.—Mr. M‘Lachlan read a letter that
he had received from M. Ernest Olivier, stating that the
collection of insects formed by his grandfather had been
purchased some years after his death by MM. Chevrolat and
Jousselin. A great part of the collection had been suffered
to fall into decay; but recently a portion, comprising the
Curculionide, Heteromera, Lamellicornes, Sternoxi, Chryso-
melidz, Clavicornes and Hydrocantharide had come into his
possession, and he would be happy to show them to any
English entomologist who might desire to examine any of the
numerous types. Unfortunately the Carabide and Longicornes
were almost entirely lost.

Election of Officers.—The following gentlemen were elected
Members of Council for 1874:—Sir Sidney Smith Saunders,
Messrs. W. C. Boyd, Dunning, Grut, Meldola, Moore,
M‘Lacbhlan, F. Smith, Stainton, Stevens, Verrall, Jenner
Weir, and Professor Westwood. The following officers were
subsequently elected, vez.:—Sir Sidney Smith Saunders,
President; Mr. M‘Lachlan, Treasurer; Messrs. Grut and
Verrall, Secretaries; and Mr. Janson, Librarian. The Presi-
dent then read an Address on the progress of Entomology
during the past year.

Insects in Limestone Caves.—Mr. Miller exhibited the
following specimens, which he had found on a recent visit to
some limestone caves in the Jurassian Mountains. 1. A
blind Myriapod, found on decayed trunks of trees carried into
the cave by floods. 2. A minute Podura, which had, how-
ever, become quite shrivelled. 38. A species of Hemalastor,
Koch (a genus of Schusselzecken), mentioned by Kolenati in
‘Die Parasiten d. Chiroptera’ (Dresden, 1857). Mr. Miiller
did not observe any bats in the cave, but the insect was
creeping on one of the stalactites, from which it dropped into
his hand. He believed it was the first time that any blind
specimens had been found in the caves of Switzerland.

Longicorn destructive to Coffee Plantations at Natal.—
The Secretary read extracts from a letter from Mr. W. D.

96 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Gooch, of Spring Vale, Natal, on the destruction of the
coffee plantations there by a Longicorn beetle. He stated
that they were splitting up the diseased stumps, and that
only about two per cent were unaffected. The larve bored
into the tree between the forks of the root, working into the
heart and feeding on the wood, as high up as nine or twelve
inches above ground. A specimen of the insect was exhibited,
which proved to be Anthores leuconotus, Pascoe. In the
bottle with the larve were also specimens of Ceroplesis
caffra, but the former insect was stated to be the cause of the
evil. They had split up some five thousand trees, which
were diseased, and the only remedy which they had, as yet,
tried, was to apply Stockholm tar to the roots: he would be
glad to be advised as to the best mode of exterminating the
insects. Mr. M‘Lachlan remarked that it was very important
to ascertain if the insect was really the original cause, or
whether, as he believed, the trees were previously diseased.
Mr. Miiller was of opinion that the eggs were laid on sound
trees, and he added that the maximum time for the appear-
ance of the perfect insect was only about two weeks, and
suggested hand-picking as they came out, a practice frequently
adopted on the continent of Europe, with regard to Melo-
lontha: it was also very desirable to avoid shooting the
various species of insectivorous birds, which were frequently
destroyed for the sake of their plumage.

[I entirely agree with Mr. Miiller in supposing the eggs
were laid on sound wood. During fifty years attention to
this subject, I have never found the larvze of Longicorn beetles
in decayed wood, or those of Lamellicorn beetles in sound
wood.— Edward Newman.]

The West London Entomological Society.—The first exhi-
bition of the above Society took place December 2nd and 3rd,
1873. The principal rarities were a specimen of Bolitobia
fuliginaria, taken in the Blackfriars Station of the London,
Chatham and Dover Railway, exhibited by Mr. Dow; some
varieties of Cidaria suffumata, by Mr. Seabrook; a series
illustrating the life-history of Orgyia’ gonostigma, and a
hermaphrodite specimen of Anthocharis Cardamines, by Mr.
Wyatt; specimens of Cerura bicuspis and Notodonta Car-
melita, from Tiigate Forest, by Mr. Cooke.—£.. W. Timmins.

. un a n wen
ee ee ee as

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—

ee

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

No. 129.] MAY, MDCCCLXXIV, [Price 6d.

MELIT#A SELENE ? VARIETY.

Melitea Selene ? variety.—This singular specimen, which
is in the rich collection of Mr. Stevens, almost defies every
attempt to fix its specific name. The colour on the upper
side is fulvous, or raw-sienna brown marked with black, in
the manner which the clever drawing by Mr. Willis so well
indicates: the fore wings have three amorphous blotches in
a longitudinal series beneath the costa and above the middle
of the wing; the wing-rays are incrassated by black margins,
and each intervening area is divided by a short transverse
bar; on the left-hand wing four of these areas have each an
oblong narrow spot near the middle; the hind wings are
dark, almost black, but not without paler spaces and reflections
in the basal portion; each has also a submarginal series of
six oblong fulvous spots. The under side can scarcely be
described, the black, brown, fulvous, and silver, are so mixed
up, and so entirely without distinguishing specific characters.

-Edward Newman.

VOL. VII. Oo

98 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s
‘Die Mitteleuropadischen Eichengallen’ by Mrs. HuBERT 7
HERKOMER née WEISE. j

DRrYOPHANTA MACROPTERA,

a. WITH THE GALL-MAKER STILL PRESENT, b. THE GALL AFTER THE
ESCAPE OF THE GALL-MAKER. cc. A SECTION.
\

Dryophanta macropteran—On the young twigs of the
Turkish oak, Quercus Cerris, this species produces swellings,
which vary considerably in size and form; sometimes they
are small and of an elongate-oval form, and, like cocoons,
contain a larva, and in this case they produce merely a slight

incrassation of the twig. Sometimes the cells are densely
crowded, and arranged in a radiating fashion under the rind,
causing a manifest thickening of the twig. The perfect insect
emerges in October of the same year.—G. L. Mayr.
Dryophanta macroptera has four inquilines; one of them
occurs also in the two preceding galls. (1) Synergus flavipes,
Hart.: June; second year. (2)S. variabilis, Mayr: May toJuly; :
second year. (3) S. rotundiventris, Mayr: May ; second year.
(4) Ceroptres Cerri, Mayr: May; second year.—F. Walker.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 99

Andricus noduli.—This little gall, like
the preceding, is invisible from the ex-
terior, being embedded in the bark of
Quercus pedunculata and Q. pubescens.
A small spherical or oval swelling is
observable on the young shoots of the
Quercus pedunculata, raising the bark
or rind from 1‘5 millemetres to 2 mille-
metres in diameter, and beneath this
swelling is situated the gall. On Quercus
pubescens the swelling occasioned by
this gall is still less perceptible, on
account of the tomentum on the surface,
and sometimes it is entirely absent. It
is best to look for these galls at the end
of September, when the perfect insect
emerges: after some have escaped, and
have left little circular holes in the rind,
it is easier to watch *the remainder, as a. b.
they usually follow in the course of a few , axpnrous noput.
days. The circular aperture, made by .. A secrion.
the perfect insect on its escape, is
scarcely half a millemetre in diameter. The oval gall, only
1'3 millemetre in length, is situated either between the bark
and the wood, or in the wood itself, and is placed longitudi-
nally with the twig: it is white, and closely surrounded by
wood and bark; it has a thin covering, and contains one
larva cell. On the twigs of Quercus pedunculata the
externally-visible swelling subsides after the escape of the
perfect insect, and becomes a blackish coloured speck, with
a circular aperture in its middle. In Quercus pubescens you
are frequently unable to detect the swelling at all, and if any
unevenness has existed it remains after the perfect insect has
made its escape, and the surface of the bark does not change
colour. This gall is occasionally on leaf-pods and on petioles.
It is probable that the gall named C. Turionum, with which
I am unacquainted, belongs to this species—G. L. Mayr.

Mayr mentions three inquilines inhabiting the galls of
Andricus noduli: Ceroptres arator, Hart., Sapholytus con-
natus, Hart., and Synergus apicalis, Hart. The first appears
in May and June of the second year; the third in May of
the second year.—Francis Walker.

100 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Notes on the Wing-bones of the Two-winged Flies.
By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p. 42.)

Bones. AREOLETS.
g Subcostal. R Subcostal.
k Radial. K Radial.
c Cubital. C’ Cubital, 1st.
ce’ Cubital, 1st branch. C” Cubital, 2nd.
c’’ Cubital, 2nd branch. B’ Prebrachial,
d’ Prebrachial, 1st branch. B” Pobrachial.
d’” Prebrachial, 2nd branch. D Subapical.
m Pobrachial, Ist branch. Y Anal.
y Pobrachial, 2nd branch.
v Anal.

Fig. 7.—Sciophila.

It
Fig. 8. —Tetragoneura sylvatica.

Fig. 9.—Gnoriste.

Fig.10.—Mycetophila, sp.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 101

Fig. 11.—Sceiara.

THE inspection of the wing of a fly is generally sufficient
to ascertain the genus of the individual to which it was
attached, and there is much interest in tracing the great
variation of the wing-bones of Diptera, and in observing how
many changes are effected by the modifications of a few
parts of the structure. Strength and swiftness of flight is
generally accompanied by many wing-bones, but in numerous
cases the bones are many, and the flight is very feeble. Ina
few groups some of the bones are very slender, so as to be
termed secondary. This is more conspicuous in some
Hymenoptera, such as Chalcidia, when the fore wing has
generally only one bone near the costa, but in the largest
species one or two diffuse veins or incipient bones in the
disk may be indistinctly traced. The return of mild or warm
weather and the morning sun impart much vivacity to the
wings by means of electric currents through the bones, and
recal the Diptera from a torpid state, like as comets become
developed and move more rapidly when they approach
the sun.

Five of these six figures, and the preceding six in the
‘Entomologist, pp. 86, 37, represent the wing-bones of
Mycetophilide: this family forms two divisions, Myceto-
philini and Sciarini, of which the first includes seven
sub-families,— Diadocidine, Mycetobine, Boletophiline,

102 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Macrocerine, Ceratoplatine, Sciophiline, and Mycetophi-
line. Mycetobia (sub-fam. 2) differs especially from Diado-
cidia (sub-fam. 1) in the much greater Jength of the subcostal,
and in the nearer approach of the radial to the tip of the
wing. Ditomyia (sub-fam. 2) differs from Mycetobia in the
incomplete and very short subcostal, in the forked cubital,
and in the much longer fork of the prebrachial. In Platyura
(sub'-fam. 5) the subcostal is complete but short, the radial is
much shorter than that of the Ditomyia, and the fore fork of
the cubital is very short. In Bolitophila (sub-fam. 3) the
subcostal is elongated, the fore fork of the cubital is as short
as that of Platyura, but joins the radial near the tip of the
latter; the first pobrachial is much longer than in any of the
preceding genera. In Macrocera (sub-fam. 4) the subcostal
and the radial are shorter, and the very short fore fork of the
cubital is beyond the tip of the radial; the curve of the
cubital also distinguishes this from all the preceding genera.
In Sciophila (sub-fam. 6) a greater change occurs in the
structure of the bones; the cubital has two short approximate
directly transverse forks, which join the radial. In Tetrago-
neura, belonging to the same sub-family, the structure is still
more altered; the subcostal is incomplete, and very short;
the radial and the cubital are gathered closer to the costa,
and the two forks of the radial are shorter and more approxi-
mate than in Sciophila, and the two branches of the
pobrachial are much nearer to the tip of the wing. In
Gnorista and in Mycetophila (sub-fam. 7) the cubital is
simple, and the arrangement is much like that of Diadocidia
and of Mycetobia, excepting the peculiar curved radial of the
lattere In the Mycetophila, here figured, there is no sub-
costal, and the prebrachial does not form two branches. In
Sciara (div. Sciarini) the resemblance to Tetragoneura is
apparent; the radial and the cubital are curved near the
costa; the other veins are slight or secondary, and the
prebrachial does not form two branches. ‘There is a transi-
tion from Sciara to Cecidomyia when the veins are very few;
but these notes are limited to the figures which they accom-
pany. The flight of all the preceding genera is feeble, short,
and flitting; that of Bibio (fam. Bibionidz) is hovering, and
of long continuance, and there is another plan in the con-
struction of the wing-bones.
FRANCIS WALKER.

ini ee

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 103

Notes on some Amurland European Diptera.
By Francis WALKER, Esq.

MYcETOPHILIDA.

THERE are probably many undescribed European species
of this family, notwithstanding the extent of Winnertz’s
monograph: very few have been recorded from South Europe.

Div. 1. Micetophilint. Subfam. Macrocerine.
Genus Macrocera.—M. vittata occurs near Rome.

Subfam. Ceratopline.

Genus Platyura.—P. nemoralis and P. discoloria were
observed near Rome, P. basalis at Florence, and there appear
to be two undescribed British species, one found in North
Wales, the other in the Isle of Man. The large British
species, P. vitripennis, is not recorded by Winnertz; it
mimics P., atrata, which belongs to another division of the
genus.

Subfam. Sciophiline.

Genus Sciophila.—Two species not recorded by Winnertz :
one found in the Isle of man, the other at Florence.
Genus Polylepta.—One undescribed species found in
North Wales.
Subfam. Mycetophiline.

Genus Syntemma.—One new species found in North
Wales.

Genus Trichonia.—One new species in the Scilly Isles.

Genus Allodia.—One new species in North Wales.

Genus Phronia.—One new British species, and one found
in Switzerland. S. nitidiventris occurs in the Scilly Isles.

Genus Eaechia.—One new species in North Wales,
another found near Pisa.

Genus Sceptonia.—S. nigra inhabits Amurland,

Genus Mycetophila.—M. punctata and M. gibba in Amur-
land.

Div. 2. Sctarine.

Genus Sciara.—S. Thome occurs near Rome and in
Amurland, where there are some other species which are not
sufficiently well preserved to be recorded. Two apparently

104 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

undescribed species occur in Italy; one in Switzerland; and
I have found S. alpicola on the Col de Voga, near Chamouni.

BLEPHARICIDA.

I have found species of this family near Martigny, in
Switzerland, and near Florence, in Italy, and remarked its
peculiar characters and manner of flight, and have placed it
between the Cecidomyide and the Bibionide. A. H. Hali-
day wrote to me about the localities in which he saw them,
and about the genera and species of the family, and remarked
that “the analogy in the development of the eyes (male) to a
Baetis is very striking, and the secondary net-work of delicate
veins of the wings is also remarkable. I have been able to
observe its carriage when alive, and find little to justify the
comparison with Chironomus that has been made. It seems
always to alight on the under surfaces, so hanging back
downwards, the wings divaricated and a little deflected from
the horizontal plane, the abdomen above their level, while
the head is stooped.”

Francis WALKER.

Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.

Cnethocampa pityocampa and another, as observed at
Nice.—With reference to the captures of larve of C. Pityo-
campa, recorded in the ‘ Entomologist’ for April (Entom. vii.
p. 81), it may interest you to know that I made a little
acquaintance with them during my stay at Nice this winter.
I first observed their nests on the fir trees, about a fortnight
before Christmas, 1873, and upon examining one of these
webs I found some hundred or hundred and twenty larve,
about half an inch long, very closely packed,—I suppose for
warmth: when I handled them I did not feel any effects from
their urticating quality, which perhaps they did not then
possess; and to save myself the trouble of feeding them up,
and besides having no convenience at hand for doing so, I
left them on the tree where I found them, and did not again
look at them until the middle of March, 1874, when I observed
that they began to descend the tree by ones and twos, and
toward the end of the month they commenced forming their

Biro et

——————E

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 105

processions across the garden- -path: unfortunately, I never
counted how many there were in these processions, but I
think I shall be within the mark when I say that they ranged
from twenty to one hundred, all marching in admirable order.
I have also seen them walking three and four abreast, but not
often. I then discovered that their small hairs came off when
they were handled, and occasioned me severe irritation, which
in the course of a few hours became very painful, producing
something like the effects of a stinging-nettle, namely, small
white spots on the skin, which continued for about forty-eight
hours afterwards. In addition to C. pityocampa I found one
specimen of another larva, which also possessed this irritating
power: itis about two and a half inches long, of a mahogany
colour, sprinkled rather sparingly with grayish blue fine hairs
all along the back; on the 3rd and 4th segments it has
crests of deep blue hairs, longer than the others, extending
on either side almost to the spiracles; partly on the 8th and
partly on the 9th segments it has the figure of a minute
butterfly of the swallow-tail type, also of grayish blue, and
measuring a quarter of an inch across; it has legs on the 2nd,
3rd and 4th segments, and claspers on the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th
and last segments. After preserving this larva my wrists and
round the lower part of my eyes were covered with minute
blisters, which caused me great irritation ; 1 took the precau-
tion to wear gloves, so that my hands did not suffer.—H.
Wittich ; 6, Lansdown Cottages, Dalston, April 20, 1874.
The Colorado Potato Bug.—Panic is a cherished “ Insti-
tution” among us dauntless Britons,—“ Hearts of Oak,” as
we call ourselves. This bugbear takes a variety of forms:
sometimes it is a Napoleon, then a ghost, then, presto/ it is
a comet, anon an invisible fungus, Peronospora infestans;
then a second Napoleon, then a bottle-nosed whale, then a
coal famine, and now a potato bug. A few, a very few, in-
cline to investigate: they exclaim, ‘‘We must look into this
matter ;” but their “lookings into” are confined to the penny-
a-lining columns of the ‘Telegraph’ and ‘Times, and the
penny-a-liners adopt a florid and fluent, but vague, style, in
order to extend the panic: if they succeed in getting up a
deputation to a President of the Board of Trade, or to a
Chancellor of the Exchequer, so much the better; it hurts
no one, and brings grist to their mill, Under great pressure,

P

106 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

and throughout all the correspondence about the potato bug,
I have been silent; I have not cried “ Wolf,” simply because
I do not believe the wolf is coming. The editor of the
‘American Entomologist’ informs us that there are “at least
a dozen different species of potato bug :” these are principally
of the genera Lytta and Epicauta, beetles very nearly related
to the familiar blister-beetle, Lytta vesicatoria. ‘The more
destructive, or more noticed, are Epicauta marginata,
E. lineata, E. strigosa, EK. murina, and especially, HE. atrata.
The Count Dejean, with his usual fertility of name-giving, has
multiplied these names, but whether he has discovered new
species I will not venture to say. All these beetles, when in
the perfect state, devour the potato-haulm with a rapidity
and voracity that appears almost incredible, leaving the bare
stalks standing up like stag’s-horns. Next in importance are
the various species of Chrysomela, or bloody-nosed beetle,
and entomologists incline to place the Chrysomela decem-
lineata of Thomas Say at the head of them for mischief; the
larva is even more voracious than/ th¢ perfect insect: both
devour the haulm, and the haulm af The third family of

potato-beetle comprises the genera /Cassida, Cryptocycla,
and Chelomorpha (tortoise beetles), the larve of which are
beset with prickles in a very chridus fashion: all these
beetles are leaf-eaters, and if I may take the statement of our
friends in America they are potato-leaf eaters. It will be
hardly necessary to state that I have no practical acquaint-
ance with any of these beetles, except as preserved in
cabinets, or that I see small prospect of their crossing the
Atlantic; but still when I recollect that Pieris Rape has
already crossed in a contrary direction, | can by no means
deny the possibility of such an event; and, therefore, I will
give my English readers an opportunity of studying the
remedies which our transatlantic friends think they have
found most efficacious.—Hdward Newman.

“Artificial Remedies: Paris-green.—The many entomolo-
gists and agriculturists who have experimented on this
insect—with various poisons and other substances, in those
portions of the United States where it has been so destructive
for some years past—concur in recommending the use of
Paris-green diluted with flour, ashes, or air-slacked lime, as
the best remedy known for destroying the insect both in its

i)

rege we Ney

.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 107

larva and beetle state, without injuring the plant. The
results of our experiments and investigations confirm this
opinion, and this remedy is, no doubt, a reliable one, provided
the Paris-green be of good quality. Our experience has also
satisfied us that flour is a much better substance to mix the
green with than either ashes or lime, as the insects eat it
more readily, and, at the same time, it adheres more tena-
ciously to the surface of the plant, and hence is not so easily
washed off by rain. We found good effects from a mixture
of one part by weight of Paris-green, with ten or twelve parts
of flour, dusted lightly on the vines early in the morning,
when the dew is on the foliage.

“ Quantities Required, and Probable Cost per Acre.—After
a careful estimate, we consider that three pounds of the
Paris-green, economically used, will be found sufficient for
one acre of potatoes. Assuming fifty cents to be the ordinary
retail price per pound of Paris-green, every application of the
mixture would cost from two to three dollars per acre, exclu-
sive of the labour. If the insect is very abundant, two or
more applications may be required, as exposure to wind and
rain will eventually remove the powder entirely from the
leaves, rendering them liable to further attacks. Some dis-
cretion should be exercised in selecting a suitable time for
using the mixture, which should not be applied during high
winds, or immediately before a rain storm.

“Other Remedies -Tried.mWe did not content ourselves
with the use of Paris-green only, but experimented with as
many other substances as the limited time at our disposal
would admit of; and, although we would not have the results
here given to be considered as final in reference to the mate-
rials used, we trust they will be of value as indicating the
most promising remedies for further trial.

“Arsenious Acid (Arsenic).—This chemical being much
cheaper than Paris-green, and more uniform in its composi-
tion, we hoped it would have proved a practical and sound
remedy. We tried it in the proportions of half-ounce, one
ounce, and two ounces, to a pound of flour; and while we
are not prepared, from the few trials we have made, to
entirely disapprove of its use, the results we have obtained
point to the conclusion that where it has been used in suffi-
ciently large proportions to destroy the insect, it has caused

108 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

more or less injury to the leaves. In cases where Paris-green
is not obtainable this might be used as a substitute, in the
proportion of one ounce to a pound of a flour, which should
always be coloured with some black powder, such as char-
coal or black antimony, so as to lessen the risk of accident
from its use.

“ Powdered Cobalt or Fly-poison.—Another arsenical com-
pound was also tested, known in commerce as powdered
cobalt, or fly-poison. This was used in the same proportions
as the last mentioned, and with similar results, but, owing to
its higher price, we do not recommend it for general use.

“ Sulphate of Copper (Blue-stone).—A strong solution of
this salt was tried in the proportion of two ounces to one
gallon of water, and showered on the vines with a watering-
pot, without damage to either the insect or the plant.

“ Bichromate of Potash.—This is a poisonous substance
largely used in dyeing, and one which has attracted some
attention in France of late, as a remedy for insects. We used
it dissolved in water, in the proportion of two ounces to three
gallons of water. This killed the insects effectually, but, at
the same time, destroyed the plants. Whether, in a more
diluted form, this remedy could be effectively used without
injury to the foliage, we are unable at present to say, but
shall experiment further with it.

“ Powdered Hellebore.—This powerful irritant, which is so
effectual as a remedy for the currant-worm, we tried without
perceptible effect, both in powder and also mixed with
water. Several other poisonous substances were also used
with like results.

“Carbonate of Lime.—There are several preparations sold
under this name, which we found to vary much in composi-
tion and character, and equally so in effect. We tried an
article known as Dougall’s, without any good result, but
succeeded better with one prepared by Lynam Brothers, of
Toronto,—a black powder, manufactured, we understand, from
coal-tar. This destroyed a large proportion of the larve, but
we doubt whether it would kill the perfect insect; it is,
moreover, used in an undiluted form, which would render its
cost greater than that of the Paris-green mixture. Some see
no advantage in using it, although the fact of its being less
poisonous may induce some to try it who are prejudiced
against Paris-green.

pips

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 109

“ Ashes and Air-slacked Lime.—This, we found, had been
extensively used by many of the farmers on the frontier
districts, but, as far as we could see or learn, without any
perceptible results.

“ Suggestions.—Paris-green, which we regard as the most
practical and efficient remedy for this insect-pest is, unfor-
tunately, as found in commerce, a substance most variable in
its composition. Itis an arsenite of copper, and the best
qualities contain about sixty per cent. of arsenic, on which
its activity depends, but the inferior grades contain a much
smaller percentage, and are proportionately less effective,
and sometimes almost worthless for this purpose. It is
highly important that the public be supplied with a good
quality of this useful material, and at as low a price as
possible, as an encouragement to its use; and we would
strongly urge on the Department the expediency of making
such arrangements with the wholesale dealers in Toronto as
will enable farmers and others to obtain a reliable preparation
at a stated uniform price. We would further suggest that,
for convenience sake, the Paris-green be made up in packages
containing one pound each, with printed directions for its
use, and cautions regarding its poisonous qualities. We
would also recommend the Department to strongly urge upon
farmers to plant in future only such quantities of potatoes as
they can well look after: one acre, carefully cultivated and
watched over, wil! probably yield more gross results than four
or five acres if neglected; indeed, wherever the beetle is
numerous, negligence is sure to be repaid by the utter
destruction of the crop.”

Breeding Zygena Lonicere.—In reply to the editor’s note
to my paper on the larva of Zygena Trifolii, in the April
number of the ‘Entomologist’ (Entom. vii. p. 90), I have on
only two occasions attempted to rear the larva of a Zygena
through the winter, and on both occasions the species was
Lonicere. No difficulty was experienced in keeping them
alive. In the first brood I kept, some years ago, the larve
were confined in an ordinary breeding-cage, and, as Mr.
Newman says, ceased feeding in the autumn very early, and
when very small, and attached themselves to the sides and
roof of the cage, though some of them occasionally wandered
about a little throughout the winter. A great difficulty

110 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

presented itself in the spring, however: though apparently
quite healthy, they absolutely refused to grow, and this sort of
thing continued until: the end of the summer, and long after
the imagos should have been out, the larve being even then
little more than a quarter of an inch in length. Indeed, as it
appeared evident they would hybernate a second time, [ got
thoroughly tired of them, and either turned them out or gave
them away, I do not remember which. The other brood is
from a few eggs I obtained last summer, and the larve thus
far have acted in precisely the same manner as did the
former ones: when examined yesterday many of them seemed
quite healthy, but show no disposition to feed, though there
has been food growing in the cage throughout the winter, and
now looks beautifully fresh. The cage has been kept during
the winter in a greenhouse (no artificial heat) in the garden.
Larve of various Acidalia and other species, kept under
precisely the same conditions, have been feeding several
weeks.—Geo. T. Porritt; Huddersfield, April 2, 1874.

Breeding Teniocampa opima.—lI have read your corre-
spondent Mr. W. H. Tugwell’s account of the way in
which he successfully reared the larve of Tniocampa
opima last year (Entom. vii. p. 86). I was equally successful
with my brood of that species, though with a totally different
kind of treatment. The previous year I had lost every cater-
pillar, I supposed through having kept them rather closely
confined (the plan which has sueceeded in Mr. Tugwell’s
case), so last year I kept them in a roomy cage, which was
placed close to a small, constantly-open window; this kept
the larve nearly always in a draught, sometimes a strong
one. The brood was a large one, and fed up fast on willow,
and a healthier or finer lot I think I never saw; scarcely one
seemed to be lost. Has not the season something to do with
it? Opima seems to have been much easier to rear Jast year
than it was the previous one. Willow, too, seems decidedly
the most satisfactory food.—Jd.

Migration of Butterflies—Mr. Belt, in his interesting
work, ‘The Naturalist in Nicaragua,’ pp. 152—154, speaking
of this curious fact, says that the butterflies (‘Timetes Chiron)
were all flying in a south-easterly direction, and that the
beautiful day-flying moth (Urania Leilus) also joins in this
annual movement. Many other travellers have observed

lip

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. lll

similar migrations in South America, Ceylon, &c., but none
seem to give any Satisfactory explanation of why these
migrations should annually take place. Mr. Belt, 1 think,
nearly hits on the probable solution when he says: “ I thought
that some of the earlier flights in April might be caused by
the vegetation of the Pacific side of the Continent being still
_ parched up, whilst on the Atlantic slope the forests were
green and moist; but in June* there had been abundant
rains on the Pacific side, and vegetation was everywhere
growing luxuriantly; neither would their direction from the
north-west bring them from the Pacific, but from the interior
of Honduras and Guatemala: the difficulty is that there are
no return swarms.” If this be correct—and I believe Mr.
Darwin, Mr. Bates, Mr. Holdsworth, and a host of other
eminent authorities, incline to this view—we can advance so
far on the stage of enquiry as to set down for certain that the
migration takes place after the eggs have been deposited on,
or near, the food-plant, otherwise the species would become
extinct in the north-west quarter, from which it started in two
or three years at the most. Is anything known of the food-
plant of either of the migratory species of butterflies? If so,
does it occur in patches widely separated, or is it generally
distributed along the whole route of migration? Cannot
Mr. Bates or Mr. Holdsworth give us some information on
this point? I fancy, although not observed by Mr. Belt, that
there must be an autumn, as well as a spring, migration,
otherwise how are the insects provided for the next spring
flight, except the eggs be deposited before the insects leave
the immediate neighbourhood where they were hatched? I
take it, that if there is no hybernation of insects in tropical
countries, there can be little necessity for this provision of
Nature during an almost perpetual summer. It would cer-
tainly be helping us in the enquiry if we knew (1) whether
the migratory flights consist of both sexes, and (2) whether
the larve are found feeding in the districts vacated by the
imagos? This would probably give a clew to the cause of
migration: it would tend to show whether sportive or of
necessity. Iam no believer at present in the sportive theory ;

* Tam unable to see how rain in June would influence the growth of
vegetation in April, especially where so much rain falls annually as in
Nicaragua.—H. £&.

112 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

there must I fancy be a necessity—a movement, in fact—in
search of a locality where the food-plant in spring is earlier,
as suggested by Mr. Belt. At any rate, with entomologists
living on the spot, especially in Ceylon, we ought soon to
have more reliable data on the economy of migratory butter-
flies— Henry Reeks ; Manor House, Thruxton, April 9, 1874.

Tortrix ribeana and T. cerasana.—* Mr. Barrett asked me
whether I thought Tortrix ribeana and T. cerasana were
species, or only varieties. Dr. Knaggs quotes a portion of
my reply, and appears to infer that I had only once seen the
two forms in copulation. I have seen them so repeatedly,
and, as the larve are similar, I have no doubt of their being
varieties of one species.— Henry Doubleday ; Epping, March
14,1874.” (‘ Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine’ for April,
p- 253.)

[When, as in this instance, two shades of colour in
imago are produced from similar larve, and the two shades
habitually intercopulate, we must not suppose them species,
otherwise the species of some Tortricidz would be endless.
—Hdward Newman. |

Phycis Davisellus, Newman.—I sent a pair of this species
to my kind friend Professor Zeller, who informs me that it is
new to him, and he believes it is unknown on the Continent.
It bears no resemblance whatever to Albariella, and does not
belong to the same genus.—Henry Doubleday ; Epping.

Polydrusus sericeus.—In May of last year (1873) I had
the good fortune to secure, near Crabbe Wood, Winchester,
a single example of the beautiful green weevil, Polydrusus
sericeus, Schonherr, a species which, as I am informed by
Mr. Janson, ‘‘ though taken in some numbers many years ago
by the late Rev. G. T. Rudd, in a wood at Kimpton, near
Ringwood, Hants, has not, to my knowledge, occurred since.”
—W. A. Forbes.

Cryptocephalus bipustulatus.——With regard to Cryptoce-
phalus bipustulatus, which I have noticed in the January
number of the ‘ Entomologist’ (Entom. vil. p. 23) as occurring
on St. Catherine’s Hill, Winchester, it may be of interest to
know that C. lineola, of which C. bipustulatus is regarded by
some as a variety, has also occurred during the past summer
in exactly the same locality, so that this, as far as it goes,
seems to show that the above view is the correct one. 1 may

Rie a.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 113

add that no heather, on which C. bipustulatus is taken, grows
nearer than about half a mile off, and there only in a small
patch on the top of another hill—W. A. Forbes.

Dasypolia Templi.—I am advised to keep Templi larve
out of doors in an open box planted with Heracleum sphon-
dylium. Is this wise, when they are so likely to be attacked
with ichneumons? Would it not be better to cover the box
with tarlatan'—Owen Wilson; Cwmffrwd, Carmarthen,
April 13, 1874.

- [I would, nevertheless, recommend the larve being kept in
the open air; the chance of the ichneumon of Dasypolia
Templi finding the larva of that insect in a state of captivity,
as it may be called, is very small.—Hdward Newman. |

Rose-galls.—In the beginning of April the gall, mentioned
in the ‘Entomologist’ (Entom. vii. p. 94), produced one
female specimen of Rhodites Rosarum and two males of a
Callimome.—Francis Walker.

Humble Bees Fertilizing Gentians.—The closed gentian
(Gentiana Andrewsii) has flowers an inch and a quarter or
more in length. ‘These inflated, bright blue flowers of late
autumn appear to be always in the bud, as they never open.
The corolla is twisted up, so as to leave no opening at the
top. The flowers are all nearly erect, with two stigmas con-
siderably above the five anthers. I see but one way in which
it can be fertilized, that is by insects. Several of my students,
as well as myself more than two years ago, have often seen
humble-bees entering these flowers. They pry into or untwist
the opening with their mouth-organs and legs, and then pop
into the barrel-shaped cavity, which they just fill—‘ American
Naturalist, vol. viii. p. 180.

Organs of Hearing in Insects.—At the last meeting of the
National Academy of Sciences, Professor A. M. Mayer exhi-
bited experimental confirmation of the theorem of Fourier, as
applied by him in his propositions relating to the nature of
a simple sound, and to the analysis by the ear of a composite
sound into its elementary pendulum-yibrations ; and to show
experiments elucidating the hypothesis of audition of Helm-
holtz. Placing a male mosquito under the microscope, and
sounding various notes of tuning-forks in the range of a
sound given by the female mosquito, the various fibres of the
antenne of the male mosquito vibrated sympathetically to

Q

114 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

these sounds. The longest fibres vibrated sympathetically to
the grave notes, and the short fibres vibrated sympathetically
to the higher notes. The fact that the nocturnal insects have
highly organized antenne, while the diurnal ones have not,
and also the fact that the anatomy of these parts of insects
shows a highly developed nervous organization, lead to the
highly probable inference that Prof. Mayer has here given
facts which form the first sure basis of reasoning in reference
to the nature of the auditory apparatus of insects. These
experiments were also extended in a direction which added
new facts to the physiology of the senses. If a sonorous
impulse strike a fibre so that the direction of the impulse is
in the direction of the fibre, then the fibre remains stationary.
But if the direction of the sound ‘is at right angles to the fibre,
the fibre vibrates with its maximum intensity. Thus, when a
sound strikes the fibrils of an insect, those on one antenna
are vibrated more powerfully than the fibrils on the other, and
the insect naturally turns in the direction of that antenna
which is most strongly shaken. ‘The fibrils on the other
antenna are now shaken with more and more intensity, until,
having turned his body so that both antennz vibrate with
equal intensity, he has placed the axis of his body in the
direction of the sound. Experiments under the microscope
show that the mosquito can thus detect to within five degrees
the position of the sonorous centre. To render assurance
doubly sure, Prof. Mayer, having found two fibrils of the
antenne of a mosquito which vibrated powerfully to two
different notes, measured these fibrils very accurately under
the microscope. He then constructed some fibrils out of
pine wood, which, though two or three feet long and of the
thickness of small picture-cord, had exactly the same pro-
portion of length to thickness as the fibrils of the antennz of
the mosquito. He found that these slender pine rods or
fibrils had to each other the same ratio of vibration as the
fibrils of the mosquito.—‘ American Naturalist, vol. viii.
p- 236.

British Aphides requested.—For the last two years I have
been engaged in describing and drawing from life all the
British Aphides that have come under my notice. May I
ask, through your pages, such co-operation from our entomo-
logists as they may have it in their power to give? 1 shall

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 115

much appreciate help in obtaining the following Aphides ;
their food-plants are fairly indicated by the specific names
of the insects. Winged and wingless forms can be safely
transmitted by post in quills, the ends of which are simply
plugged with cotton. If the quills are rolled in a green
ivy or cabbage leaf the Aphides will live three or more
days. Autumn specimens are particularly valuable, since
at that season the males and the oviparous females often
occur. Desiderata.—Siphonophora Artemisiz, S, Absinthii,
S. Tussilaginis (female), S. Tanaceticola, Phorodon Inula,
Rhopalosiphum Berberidis (female), Myzus Lythri, M. As-
clepiadis, M. tetrarhoda, Aphis Nasturtii, A. Ballote, A. sub-
terranea (female), A. Symphiti, A. Plantaginis, A. Capselle,
A. Euonymi, A. Viburni, A. Cracce, A. Serpylli, A. Euphor-
bie, A. Origani, A. Beccabunge, A. terricola (parsnep roots),
Cladobium populeus, Atheroides Serratule, A. Glyceria,
Lachnus pinicola (female), L. agilis (female), L. Juniperi,
L. Quercus, L. longirostris, Schizoneura lanigera (female),
S. vagans (female), Pemphigus (not Bursarius), Vacuna
Alni, Passerini, Phylloxera Quercus, Dryobius Roboris, Koch,
Monaphis antennata, Kalt——G. B. Bucktun; Weycombe,
Haslemere, Surrey.

Correction of an Error.—in my reply to Mr. Gregson’s
note upon Eupithecia innotata and E. egenaria, I inadver-
tently wrote “ Norfolk” instead of Cheshireex—Henry Double-
day ; Epping, April 16, 1874.

Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society
of London, February 16 to March 16, 1874.

Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., President, in the
chair.

Insects Injurious to Wheat.—Mr. Weir exhibited a sample
of wheat from Australia which was infested with the weevil,
Sitophilus Oryzz, the cargo being so much damaged that
about two tons were utterly useless. The weevil was accom-
panied by Lemophleeus ferrugineus. He also showed spe-
cimens of Sitophilus granarius and Rhizopertha pusilla
infesting wheat from Japan.

Hermaphrodite Ant and Coluocera Atte.—Mr. F. Smith

116 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

exhibited (1) a hermaphrodite ant, Myrmica levinodis, cap-
tured by Mr. J. Chappel, at Dunham Park, Cheshire: this
insect combines characters of male, female, and worker.
(2) Specimens of Coluocera Atte, Kraatz, described in
‘Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift, 1858, found by Mr. J.
Traherne Moggridge, at Mentone, in the seed-magazines of
Aphenogaster (Atta) Structor. With reference to the latter
Mr. Moggridge writes as follows:—“I have lately been
exploring a very large and far-spreading nest of Atta Structor,
and I find in the abundantly-filled granaries great numbers
of the small beetle which I enclose. Platyarthrus is also very
common in the nests. I have never observed this beetle
elsewhere, and I do not think it would have escaped me if it
had been at all abundant in the nests of Atta barbara. I have
opened but few nests of A. Structor, owing to their being
usually placed either in terrace-walls or in garden-ground.
I spend a great deal of my time now in digging for seeds in
ants’-nests, as I want these seeds for the experiments I am
making, in the hope of learning the secret method by which
the ants can at will render their seeds dormant in damp soil.
lam much struck by the frequent occurrence of the nests of
trap-door spiders in the very soil of the ants’-nests, the
spider’s tubes often running quite close to, and in the midst
of, the galleries of the ants. Ants certainly form a large part
of the food of trap-door spiders, and this helps me to under-
stand how it comes that the spiders can get a living without
leaving their nests. The spider sits watching at the mouth
of her tube, with the door raised very slightly, and then
snatches in any insect that may chance to pass within
reach.”

Colorado Potato-Beetle.—The Secretary read some remarks
taken from the ‘Times’ and ‘Gardener’s Magazine’ on the
rapid progress of the Colorado potato-beetle (Doryphora
decemlineata) through the United States and Canada, and
the remedy of Paris green, which was stated to have been used
with success by the farmers in Canada. ‘The fifteen-spotted
ladybird was mentioned as a powerful enemy to the potato-
beetle, devouring it in the larva-state. The writer in the
‘Times’ suggested the encouragement of small birds as the
best security against the pest; but, as it had been stated that
the insects when crushed produced blisters on the skin,

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. IL?

whenever they came in contact, and if they touched a wound
caused severe inflammation and painful ulcers, Mr. Bates
expressed a doubt as to whether the small birds would care
to meddle with them.

[The beetles here spoken of as producing inflammation and
ulcers are in all probability species of Lytta and Epicauta,
and not members of the family Chrysomelide, to which
Doryphora 10-lineata belongs.—Edward Newman.]

Musical Orthoplera.—Mr. M‘Lachlan exhibited two male
examples of an Orthopterous insect, belonging to the family
Locustidz, which had been placed in his hands by Mr. Daniel
Hanbury, who received them some years since from his
brother at Shanghai. It appeared from Mr. Hanbury’s
statements that these insects were sold in the streets of
Shanghai, confined in little ornamental wicker-cages, and
bought for the sound they produced. The species appeared
to be undescribed, and to pertain to a new genus, somewhat
allied to Xiphidium. The President remarked that in Turkey
a kind of cricket was kept in a similar manner in paper cages,
and fed upon lettuce-leaves.

Oniscigaster Wakefieldi.—Mr. M‘Lachlan also exhibited
a series of examples illustrating the natural history of
Oniscigaster Wakefieldi from New Zealand. He _ had
recently received from Mr. Wakefield a second series of
specimens, including the male imago, female sub-imago,
adult nymph, and larva. The lateral wing-like horny expan-
sions of the terminal segments of the abdomen in the imago
and sub-imago are continued in the aquatic conditions on each
segment of the abdomen, and in addition there are similar
formations along the back of the abdomen placed longitudi-
nally and vertically.

Aquatic Arctia Larva.—Mr. M‘Lachlan further remarked
that in the Bulletin of the Proceedings of the French Ento-
mological Society, at the Scance of the 28th January last,
M. Guenée avowed himself much puzzled concerning the
supposed aquatic larva producing a species of moth, described
by M. Bar as Palustra Laboulbenei, which he considered was
allied to the genus Cnethocampa. He thought further in-
formation very desirable, for all the characters of the insect
were opposed to aquatic habits in any stage ; and he suggested
that the bubbles of air entangled in the hairs might be only
expired air,

118 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Spitsbergen Insects —The Rev. A. EK. Eaton exhibited a
few Arctic insects which he had brought from Spitsbergen.
Amongst others were a Trichopterous insect, probably
Goniotaulius arcticus, Boheman, and also some Lepidoptera,
Plutella Cruciferarum, the larva of which feeds on a species
of Draba and a species of Phycita, near to Sub-ornatella.
They were mostly collected on the higher parts of the hills,
where there was a very small amount of vegetation. He also
exhibited several excellent photographs, illustrative of the
scenery of those desolate regions, and pointed out some
depressions in the ground where patches of stunted willows
grew, from which he obtained specimens of a kind of sawfly.

Cassida vittata:-—Mr. Champion exhibited a specimen of
Cassida vittata, taken by Mr. Walker near Chatham. The
red colour was of peculiar brilliancy when alive, though its
brightness had since somewhat faded.

Insects Injurious to the Coffee Trees.—A further commu-
nication was received from Mr. J. V. Gooch respecting the
injury to the coffee trees, in Natal, from the Longicorn
beetle, Anthores leuconotus, Pascoe. Mr. Gooch remarked
that he was disposed to think that the plants were suffering
from fungus before they were attacked by the insect, and
stated that the ground into which the coffee-plants had been
put contained a large number of decaying roots of the trees
which formerly stood there for ages, and that when cleared
for planting with coffee these roots were carelessly left in the
ground, though, at the time, there was no idea in the minds
of the planters as to any injury being likely to arise from
them. He had drawn his son’s attention to this point, and
he hoped before long to obtain some information which
might prove of interest to the Society, and which he would
not fail to communicate to them.

New Parts of ‘ Transactions.—Part V. of the ‘Trans-
actions’ for 1873, concluding the volume, was on the table;
and also Part I. of the ‘ Transactions’ for 1874.

Euryporus picipes——Mr. Champion exhibited specimens
of Euryporus picipes taken near Chatham, by Mr. Walker.

Locusts devouring Woollen Materials and Leather.—Mr.
Smith directed attention to an article in ‘Household Words’
of 30th December, 1855, in which a description was given of
the ravages of locusts, and stating that the locusts devoured

———————————a—a——EaaEooOEOEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEEe

CA ee

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 119

woollen materials and leather, a fact of which he was not
hitherto aware.

Zoological Nomenclature.—At the request of Dr. Sharp
the Secretary read the following note:—“I find that in his
Address, at the recent Anniversary Meeting of the Society,
the late President noticed a pamphlet recently published on
the subject of Zoological Nomenclature. In this notice the
President states that Dr. Sharp proposes to have ‘three
names for each species. ‘This statement, however, not only
does not represent what I propose, but is calculated to convey
such a misconception about my propositions that I do not
think it would be right to allow it to pass without observation
from me. So far from having ‘ three names for each species,’
it is my object to have but one name for each species. I do
not consider it desirable that the classificatory name shall be
used at all as a part of the name of a species. And the main
object of the pamphlet, noted by the learned President, is to
facilitate the complete separation of species nomenclature
from classification nomenclature. Till this object be attained
there can be no solution of the nomenclature question; and
the only way of obtaining it is either to establish a separate
mononymic system of species names, or to adopt the com-
promise proposed by me.”

Death of Mr. Deane.—On Saturday, the 4th of April,
Henry Deane, of Clapham Common, a most painstaking
entomologist, but unknown as a collector of insects, died
suddenly of heart disease, in his sixty-seventh year, at Dover,
whence he was about to embark for the Continent. I can
scarcely over-rate the ardour or thoroughness with which
Mr. Deane investigated subjects of natural Science: as an
instance of this 1 may mention that when in 1872 the question
of the food of Syrphide was agitated, and it was discovered
that these flies fed on dry pollen granules, Mr. Deane was the
only naturalist in the kingdom who condescended to consider
the question. He possessed one of those rarely candid minds
which aims simply at the discovery and promulgation of truth,
entirely careless how it may interfere with hypothesis. He
saw almost at the first glance that it was simple pollen
granules that distended the abdomens of these flies; and
then he traced the reception of these granules into the

120 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

mouth, and their passage through the long, leathery
haustellum, or promuscis, into the cesophagus and stomach,
there to constitute the support of these flower-loving flies. I
have before me a most interesting autobiography of this
excellent naturalist and kind man, and from this I have made
the following brief extract :—“I was born at Stratford, in the
parish of West Ham, Essex, near London, on the 11th of
August, 1807. My parents, Moses and Elizabeth Deane,
being members of the Society of Friends, I was brought up
in that persuasion, and continued a member thereof until my
marriage in 1843. For nearly the first eleven years the only
sound instruction I received was from my beloved parents.
Although I was sent to what was considered a good day-
school, in the immediate neighbourhood, I have a most
distinct recollection of its utter inefficiency as a place for
communicating even the merest rudiments of knowledge, and
it was not until my father sent me to a school at Epping that
I had the slightest idea of what it was to be systematically
taught, and to know the value and pleasure of learning.
Amongst my schoolfellows were Henry and Edward Double-
day, who have since attained a world-wide notoriety as
entomologists. I was occasionally favoured with an invitation
to go home with them to tea, occasions which were highly
prized, as affording opportunities for seeing their collections
and illustrated books of Natural History. From collecting

insects, collecting plants and drying them—without regard to |

names, but for their intrinsic beauty—seemed naturally to
follow. Thus habits of observing the beauties of creative
wisdom were early fixed in my heart, and I often look back
with thankfulness to that now far distant day when my
friends the Doubledays sowed that seed which was to keep
out many temptations to evil, and prove such a lasting
source of pure enjoyment.” When sixteen years of age
Mr. Deane attended a series of lectures on Natural and
Experimental Philosophy, at the Mathematical Society’s
Rooms in Crispin Street. These were so admirably delivered,
and made so deep an impression on his ardent mind then
thirsting for knowledge, that they constituted, as he himself
tells us, a turning-point in his life; and although afterwards
for many years assiduous at his business of chemist and
druggist, he never lost his intense love for natural Science up
to the hour of his death H#dward Newman.

—

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 130.] JUNE, MDCOCCLXXIV. [Price 6d,

Gortyna flavago and its Householding. By Epwin
BIrcHaLL, Esq.

TRULY there is nothing new under the sun. We look for
knowledge, but what we mostly find is our own ignorance.
Every collector is familiar with the larve of Gortyna flavago:
in many parts of England it is difficult to cut open a thistle-
stem in July or August without finding its traces. The moth
emerges from the pupa in September, quickly deposits its
eggs, and dies; and there, until lately, my knowledge ended.
None of the published histories of the insect, that I have seen,
carry the matter further, or state in what condition, or where,
the insect exists from September to June. The egg is said
to be laid on the stems of burdock, thistle, &c. (‘ British
Moths,’ Newman, p. 280); but as the old thistle-stem dies
down in the autumn, and a new one does not appear for
many months, there is an evident want of continuity in the
chain of circumstances, and it is left open to conjecture
whether the female moth hybernates, or if the egg is deposited
in the autumn, when the larva hatches, and what becomes
of it, till thistles and June come round again. I have been
able this spring to fill the gap in the history of the insect;
but a kind friend having given me a copy of the works of
Christian Sepp, and finding that he knew all about it one
hundred years ago, I prefer that he should tell the story in
his own quaint way, and hope that your readers will find
pleasure in perusing the account of a “ Morning’s Collecting
in the Last Century.” Unfortunately, Dutch is a language
with which few Englishmen are familiar, so I venture to offer
a translation. The work is entitled ‘A Description of God’s

VOL, VII. R

122 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Wonders in the Least-noticed Creatures; or, Netherland
Insects in their Remarkable Householding, Wonderful
Transformations, and other Peculiarities worth Knowing.’
Described from own observations, pictured after life, done in
copper, and coloured by Christian Sepp: printed at Amster-
dam, 1762.

“No. 1—The Gold-cloth Night-flyer (De Goudlakens
nacht-vlinder).—The name of gold-cloth has been given to
this beautiful insect, because it seems at first sight to have
some similarity to the so-called gold-cloth hen. Possibly
many collectors may not yet know this insect, at least not its
derivation ; I doubt not then that it will be agreeable to them
for me to try to give its history as a topic of the present
treatise. In the following manner I have got at the whole
householding of this insect. In the latter part of June, 1760,
I was busy with my son, outside the town a little, seeking
insects, when he found in the stalk or stem of a burdock-bush
(klisse-struick) some round holes, which we guessed were
made by some insects, and that these might possibly still be
hid therein: he cut the stalk off,—but how unlucky, and yet
lucky, was this cut, for it went right through the body of a
caterpillar! and this grieved us certainly not a little; the
joy, however, over this new discovery soon caused us to
forget the loss, and to strive so much harder after more of
such-like ‘hermits’ (or shall I call them pith-eaters ?) ; con-
sequently we found that day other five of these caterpillars in
the burr-stems: they were all well grown; we took care not
to disturb them in their dwellings, and we brought them safe
home; but of these five, only one of them pleased us by
turning itself into a pupa and by becoming a fly. That same
summer the other four died. Thus far, then, we had dis-
covered this insect, but that year there was no chance of
learning to know it from the egg, so we were forced to wait till
next year.

“No. 2.—June having come round again we again got
some of these caterpillars, which were not yet full grown; we
did not delay to give them always fresh burr-stems, and had the
pleasure of seeing enough of them changed into pupe, and
then into flies. Consequently it happened that in the month
of September a male and female fly one day happened to
appear at the same time, and we put them by themselves into

Nee.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 123

a box to pair, and that this happened appeared by the issue.
The female laid on the 20th of the month one hundred and
twenty-one little eggs; further, other thirty: they were set
here and there by heaps, and fastened with a shining humour
or glue, appearing in their natural size and colour like a, fig. 1,
table iii.; to the naked eye they seemed smooth and shining,
but through the microscope they looked alittle rough. At the
elapse of eight days they changed colour and became some-
what darker, but at the same time they became crumpled and
withered, a proof that they were not wind-eggs, but fruitful :
they remained thus all winter.

“No. 3.—April 18, 1762, the caterpillars came out of the
eggs; the day before, the eggs were blacklead-coloured
(potloot kleurig), and to the last as transparent as glass, so
that I could see the grubs in them with a microscope of two
lines focus: at ‘c’ I picture an egg of this sort thus magnified.
The grubs when hatched were very nimble and cheerful, and
of the size like ‘d” They stretched themselves also (ze spanden
toen noch), that is, they used only twelve feet in walking, but
I could see with a good magnifying-glass that they had already
sixteen feet. At first sight they seemed to be of a brown
colour, but when I looked at them through the microscope (with
an armed-eye) they seemed yellowish with brown rings, black
head, and horny shields (dierge lyke schildjes) behind the head
or on the first ring. They did not eat up the empty shells of
their eggs. I gave them at first burr-leaves, for there were
no burr-stalks grown yet, but they let the leaves lie
untouched; on the contrary, they made themselves holes in
the stems of them, and thus made ready a way to the inside,
where they found their food, with which also they helped
themselves until we could give them stalks. But since these
grubs, according to their way of living, always kept themselves
hid in the aforesaid stalks, it was hard to observe how often
they sloughed, and I have only been able to note with
certainty that the first sloughing happened when they were
eight days old. After this sloughing they walked on fourteen
feet, and stretched thus still a little; but it was not long
before they used sixteen feet in walking,—that is all their
feet.

“No. 4.—Their food, as proved above, is the pith only of
the burr-stems, and to get at it the caterpillar makes with its

124 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

mouth outside the stem a round hole, continually throwing
the chewed stuff away till it gets to the pith, and like as the
same goes in the middle of the stem, right up and down, so
also the caterpillar must take its way along this channel, and,
always going forwards, he makes thus a canal in it of the
same width as his body: it does not turn itself round, but
only creeps forwards, or it can move itself out afterwards, as
L have figured at fig. 4. After the caterpillar, through con-
tinually eating away of the pith that continually stands before
its mouth, lengthens the channel before it, it fills it behind
with its filth, or excrement; and whenever it has thus eaten
the stem empty up to the top, or other circumstances cause
it to begin another, it leaves the former in the same way as it
entered it, for it makes again another round hole, but now
from the inside to the outside, and goes through the same
elsewhere.

“No. 5.—The grub undergoes the above changes inside
the burr-stem ; but when it is about to become a pupa it does
not creep into the earth like many other grubs of this kind
(bende), but remains in its beloved cell: it has also the
prudence to make the place where the change is to take
place a little wider, or somewhat hollower, for as caterpillar
they can stretch themselves out, and thus place themselves
in a new channel, but that does not occur when they have
become pup; besides, these are also somewhat thicker than
the grub. Indeed, this is a wonderful idea in so small and
contemptible a beast, and which it truly never found out for
itself, but must draw our attention to the highest Wisdom and
Might with feelings of reverence and awe. At fig. 5 I have
pictured the pupa in a burr-stalk, and at fig. 6 a pupa out of
the stalk in his natural form and colour: most are of this
size, seldom greater, sometimes much smaller. They usually
remain lying three or four months in the pupal state, and the
longer they remain the darker they become. At last, when it
has become quite ripe and is to come out as a fly, the wings
begin to appear through the pupa-membrane one or two days
before, and the rings of the pupa are visibly stretched out.

“No. 6.—The birth of the fly happens on the same wise,
as I have more than once described it in the former part of
this work. According to my observation the gold-cloth moths
appear in the month of August, sometimes also, but seldom,

a

A a RR ME eg Ue eS

ie Nee a

THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 125

in September. At fig. 7 I picture a female at rest with out-
stretched antennz, which, however, when quite at rest, they
place close to their body. At fig. 8 we see a flying male.
There is not a sufficient difference between their antenne to
distinguish in this case the male from the female (though this
is in many sorts the best sign of sex), but the tail-end of the
former runs out somewhat broader than that of the latter;
the male has also a slenderer body than the female. Besides
there is a remarkable difference between these moths in the
liveliness of their colours, some being very strongly, others
only paler, coloured; the marking of them is always the
same, so that one does not observe the least trifles; they are
not larger. I have chosen the largest for my drawing.

“ Lastly.—I must append here a few remarks. (1) It does
not follow that you can always see the holes in the burr-stalk
through which the insect has entered, as the grub may have
entered quite young, and consequently through an almost
imperceptible hole. (2) In one stalk you sometimes find
more than one grub, not side by side, but above one another.
(3) For the safety of the pupz, whenever you wish to allow
them to remain in the burr-stalk till they come out winged,
you must split the stalks at one end and stick a little wedge
in, otherwise through the shrinking of the stalk the channel,
or lane, in which the pupa lies, will be narrowed, and conse-
quently press it to death; you may also take them out of the
stalks, and put them on cotton or other soft stuff.”

EpwWIN BIRCHALL.
Kirkstall Grove, May 15, 1874.

The Goat-moth Larva Underground.—The larva sent by
P. E. is that of the goat-moth (Xyleutes Cossus) ; the smell
has often been noticed as resembling that of a he-goat, and
doubtless the name has reference to this peculiarity. This
caterpillar has on several previous occasions been found in
the ground, having buried itself to undergo its transformation.
It is occasionally turned up by the gardener in his spring
diggings, and is generally in a slight cocoon composed of
earth and a small portion of silk. A life-history of the species,
extending to sixteen pages, will be found at page 333 of the
fourth volume of the ‘ Entomologist.—Edward Newman.

126 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Notes on the Wing-bones of the Two-winged Flies. .

By Francis WaLKer, Esq.
(Continued from p. 102.)

Bones. v Anal.
j Mediastinal. w Subaxillary.
g Subcostal. AREOLETS.
k Radial. R Subcostal.
ce Cubital. K Radial.
c’ Cubital, 1st branch. C’ Cubital, 1st.
c’”’ Cubital, 2nd branch. C” Cubital, 2nd.
d’ Prebrachial, 1st branch. B’ Prebrachial.
d’’ Preebrachial, 2nd branch. B” Pobrachial.
m Pobrachial, Ist branch. D_ Subapical.
y Pobrachial, 2nd branch. Y Anal.

Fig. 13.—Plecia,

Fig. 14.—Penthetria.
Fig. 15.—Scatopse transversalis.

Fig. 16,—Aspistes,

Pie a

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 127

Fig. 17.—Chironomus.

Fig. 18.—Tanypus.
Fig. 19.—Culex.

Fig. 20.—Phlebotomus.
Fig. 21.—Sycorax.

Fig. 22,—Psychoda (Pericoma).

128 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Fig. 23.—Orphnephila.

Fig. 24.—Dixa.

In Sciara the nearness of the cubital bone to the costa is
apparent, and there is a transition through some intermediate
forms between this genus and Cecidomyia, where the bones
mostly disappear. In Bibio the arrangement of the bones is
quite changed, and the new pattern is continued in the two
following genera, Plecia and Penthetria (figs. 13, 14), where
the cubital is forked. Penthetria differs chiefly from Plecia
in the shortness of the radial, and in the junction of the first
branch of the cubital with the costa, and not with the radial.
In Scatopse (fig. 15), which is the type of the second division
of the Bibionide, the cubital is again near to the costa, and
is joined by a transverse bone to the first branch of the pre-
brachial, and there is an undulating subaxillary. In Aspistes
(fig. 16) the structure is much more simple, and A. H. Haliday
remarks that its analogy to that of Scatopse is very doubtful.
In the Chironomide (figs. 17, 18) there is another plan in the
formation of the bones: neither the cubital nor the prebrachial
is forked, and the anal extends to a greater distance from
the base of the wing; the hovering flight and the great swarms
of some kinds of this family are well known. In Culex (fig.
19) another change occurs: the longitudinal bones are more
numerous, and the passage from it by Phlebotomus (= He-
masson, fig. 20) to the little moth-like flies (figs. 21, 22), whose
abundance and feeble flight are well known in this country.
I have placed Orphnephila (fig. 23) with the Chironomide,
and Dixa (fig. 24) next to the Tipulidz, as the formation of
the wings agrees generally with that of Limnobia and of the
neighbouring genera.

Francis WALKER.

a mt ag

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 129

Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.

Pyrarga Egeria, §c.—Yesterday at St. Osyth I took five
specimens of Pyrarga Egeria. This species is quite rare in
this part of the country now. It was more frequently to be
met with formerly, but I have never found it common, and
none of my numerous correspondents seem to obtain it in
any numbers. In most of the books on butterflies it is stated
to be quite a common species, and | have often wondered
whether this is one of the numerous errors which one author
has been in the habit of copying from another, or whether—
so far as the country generally is concerned—it is an actual
fact. Perhaps Egeria is one of the species which has become
scarce of late years, for, hereabouts, it seems wholly to have
disappeared from several localities where it was formerly to
be met with, and in the few places where it still lingers it is
so seldom to be seen that I cannot help regarding the tradi-
tions of its former abundance with some amount of scepticism.
I also took T. punctulata yesterday; and this morning, to
my surprise, found a fine pair of N. trepida out in one of my
breeding-cages. Considering that my pupz are kept out of
doors, this seems very early. I am now breeding some lovely
specimens of N. Carmelita and S. certata, and have recently
bred a considerable number of A. prodromarius, S. opima,
and other species. Hybernated Polychloros are very abundant
this season, and the same may be said of other hybernating
species.— William Harwood ; Colchester, April 22, 1874.

Liparis auriflua, §c.—I1 wrote you (Entom. vii. 22) relative
to nests of L. chrysorrh@a (or, as I then thought, Auriflua),
enclosing a specimen. Since then Mr. Doubleday has
received some from me, and he concurs in the identification,
and adds, in a note to me, that he believes Auriflua is not
social throughout the larval life, as arule. The colonies of
Chrysorrheea do not, I find, breed up in the spring, but'a new
abode is formed of enlarged size. Apparently they separate
after the last ecdysis, as might be expected. There is a great
difference of size noticeable, some broods being now only
half grown, or hardly that; others past the final ecdysis. A
question of interest occurs to me with regard to this insect,
and one you can better pronounce upon than | can venture
to do. How far are the published accounts reliable, as regards
the details they profess to give, of the injury done by the

s

130 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

brown-tail to fruit-trees in other days? My own impression
has been always that these are exaggerated, both in the case
of England and the Continent. Now here, at Gravesend, we
are encompassed by fruit-producing districts,—at Higham,
Singlewell, Southfleet, and Green Street Green, are large
orchards of pear, apple, plum, and cherry. The increase of
L. chrysorrha@a, to be injurious to these trees, would be
serious. At present, I find no signs of them on fruit-trees ;
these nests described to you are all on three lines of hedge,
running near each other, about a mile from Gravesend. The
larve are evidently most inclined to feed on hawthorn,
though some have colonized the blackthorn, and even the
bramble. It would probably be an easy matter to collect and
burn two hundred nests, which, at the moderate average of
thirty to a nest, might represent six thousand larve; yet, for
my own part, looking at the thing with a naturalist’s eye, I
should not like to suggest it, unless it really ought to be done.
I can hardly see that the insect is one that calls for such
interference.—J. f. S. Clifford; 120, Windmill Street
Gravesend, May 11, 1874.

[I have often thought the accounts of the brown-tail moth,
as given in that most choice of all Natural Histories, Kirby
and Spence, rather surprising: “ The oaks, elms, and white-
thorn hedges, looked as if some burning wind had passed
over them and dried up the leaves.” Now I have seen
something of this appearance produced on the oak by Tortrix
viridana, and on the whitethorn hedges by Yponomeuta
padella, but never by Liparis chrysorrhea. Then again it is
said, as regards leaves, these larve “ate only the upper
surface,” and “ they devoured the fruit,” both of which state-
ments are contrary to the usual habits of the larvee in question.
Then it is stated that “churchwardens and overseers burnt
the caterpillars by bushels.” It would puzzle these gentle-
men, even when assisted by the most energetic of beadles, to
collect a single bushel of caterpillars. All things considered,
I quite agree with Mr. Clifford that these statements may
fairly be challenged.—Edward Newman. |

Dianthecia albimacula Bred: Description of the Larva.
—I send you a short description of the larva of Dianthecia
albimacula, which I captured off Silene nutans last summer.
The above plant formerly grew in abundance in this locality,

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 131

but as its habitat had been destroyed I had given up, after
several years’ search, all hope of again seeing it. However,
accident revealed what careful search had failed to discover. In
the autumn of 1872 I had rambled several miles from home,
and was sitting down boiling my tea with the help of a spirit-
lamp, when at. my feet and around me I discovered the dried
capsules of my old friend in a new locality, and many of them
bore unmistakable signs of having been eaten out by some
Lepidopterous larva. After I had enjoyed my tea I set to
work pupa-digging, but without success, so was reluctantly
obliged to abandon the search until last summer (1873),
when I again made a pilgrimage to the locality, and then
had the good fortune to find the plants in flower, and to
collect from them several larve, some of which I knew to be
the larve of Diantheecia carpophaga; the others were unknown
to me. I succeeded in rearing from them several healthy
pupe late in the year: these | have kept in a warm room,
and last autumn one specimen of D. carpophaga emerged,
and two others the beginning of April, and on the 28th of the
same month a fine specimen of D. albimacula made its appear-
ance. This morning I had the pleasure of seeing the second
specimen drying its wings. 1 do not care to make the
locality public until I find how its food-plant is distributed,
as an eager collector might, so far as I can see at present,
clear the whole of the plants in the course of one visit, and I
should not like to see it served as some of my hunting-
grounds have been by ruthless hands. When young the
caterpillar conceals itself in the seed-capsule, and, as it grows
older, at the root of the plant, crawling up after the sun has
set, to feed on the unripe seeds. When full-fed it is about
one inch and a quarter, long, tapering slightly towards each
end. The head is smaller than the 2nd segment, pale brown
in colour, with four darker lines down the face; the colour of
the body is pale ochreous-yellow, inclining to brownish
yellow on the anterior segments. ‘The points of a series of
dark brown triangular marks form the dorsal line, and the
legs of each triangle pass diagonally through two black
dots on each segment, and reach almost to the spiracular
line, which is waved, and dark brown in colour. The
spiracles are pink, surrounded by a black ring, and over
each is a black dot; the legs, claspers, and body beneath,

132 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

are yellowish white, and in some specimens the markings are
very indistinct, and only indicated by a series of cloudy spots.
It feeds on Silene nutans, on which plant I captured the larva
last summer in this district. It will eat S. inflata and
S. maritima, but does not appear to like either. When full-
fed it descends beneath the surface of the ground, and spins
a slight cocoon of silk mingled with grains of sand, &c., and
in this changes to a pale brown pupa. The imago emerges
in June; but a precocious individual has just put in an
appearance (April 28) in my breeding-cage, the first British
bred specimen of Dianthecia albimacula—H. Moncreaff;
High Street, Portsmouth, May 6, 1874.

Economy of Phycis Davisellus.—A description of the full-
grown larva of Phycis Davisellus has been already published,
but as its earlier state has not been noticed the following
information may be acceptable. The eggs of P. Davisellus
are laid in July and August on young shoots of Ulex cam-
pestris, and as soon as the larve emerge they spin a thick

net-work of silk round the branch, and under this feed until,

the approach of winter, when each forms for itself a close
cocoon or tunnel of silk in which to hybernate. In early
spring the larve lengthen these cases, and extend, as they
increase in size, the silken web, feeding on the young buds
and blossoms beneath it. On fine days they may be seen
sunning themselves on the outer part of the web, but they
retreat into their tunnels on the least alarm. ‘The little com-
panies of larvee are very abundant in this district in winter
and spring, and as the summer advances form conspicuous
objects on the furze bushes. ‘The larve cannot be dislodged
by beating, and it is only by pulling their nests to pieces that
their presence can be detected. The imago is figured in
‘Morris’s British Moths’ as P. Palumbella, and under that
name I have had it in my collection for several years.—
H. Moncreaff.

The Dor-beetle at Work.—In the afternoon of Easter
Monday I was rambling over the extensive heaths in this
neighbourhood seeking specimens or information; the cold
winds and frequent showers put the collecting of Lepidoptera
out of the question, and the numberless footprints around the
bog were an intimation that a search for lapwing’s eggs
would not be a very successful venture. As 1 stood upon a

ee a ee
ae

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 133

grassy plot watching at some distance the headlong, tumble-
down, dashing flight of the birds in question, I was-surprised
at the number of dead dor-beetles lying about at my feet,
scattered here and there. On closer examination each of
these defunct beetles proved to be but a shell—so to speak—
of its former self, the soft parts of the body having all disap-
peared most probably in the ants’-nest at no great distance,
many members of which association formed a foraging party
amongst the grass-stems, notwithstanding the inclemency of
the weather. I furthermore observed that this small, sandy
greensward was a regular nursery for the beetle above
named, and that its soft spongy surface was tunnelled in
many places, and in the choice of such a site the beetles had
exercised no small amount of wisdom, for not only was the
nature of the ground peculiarly adapted for their “ borings,”
but the droppings of the rabbits, which came to feed upon
the grass at night, made such a situation doubly convenient,
for here was food for their future offspring close at hand, and,
more than that, the pellets were ready made. Several beetles
were busy collecting these pellets; one of these I watched
more closely than the rest, and its mode of procedure was as
follows:—the tunnel at which the creature was working was
surrounded with a small, sandy mound, caused no doubt by
the throwings out during the excavation; at the base of this
mound several pellets of dung were lying, as the beetle did
not dispose of them down the tunnel as it brought them, but
collected several before they were drawn up the side of the
so-called mound to be rolled into the tunnel. Whether these
pellets were discovered by scent or sight I could not satis-
factorily prove,—possibly by a combination of both,—but
most of us are aware that the olfactory organs of these
creatures are very acute. In searching for these pellets the
beetle invariably went in the same direction, and on finding
one it seemed to be recognized by an application of the
palpi: the pellet was then seized by the two fore legs, the
hooks and pointed projections—of which the use was very
apparent—holding it firmly, whilst the pellet was further
steadied by the head of the operator. In this position it was
dragged, the beetle going backwards in exactly the same
track as it had come in its search, and it was surprising to see
how tenaciously it held on to its prize, for in returning it often

134 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

fell backwards over some impediment or other, but the pellet
in most cases was held firmly, although sometimes the beetle
and pellet went tumbling over each other. If the beetle
chanced to lose its burden it seldom searched for it again,
but went off on the look out for another. Having accom-
plished the task of pulling some three or four pellets to the
base of the mound around the tunnel, the next thing was to
find the tunnel itself, which seemed to perplex the poor
insect very much, for with the labour of collecting these
pellets it apparently had lost the knowledge of the exact
position of the tunnel, but after a longer or shorter search it
was sure to find the desired aperture, when, thrusting its head
and thorax therein, it would remain motionless for a few
seconds, as if making sure that all things were right. It then
proceeded to drag the pellets, one by one, up the side of the
mound, and almost invariably the beetle fell backwards into
the mouth of the tunnel with its load, which, being released,
rolled instantly down the oblique gallery: this having been
accomplished, the beetle would return to the mouth of its
subterranean nursery and remain very quiet, as if resting
from the fatigue of its previous exertions, before entering
upon the labour of pulling up another pellet. I thus saw the
creature dispose of eight or nine of these pellets, and at last
left it resting in the mouth of its retreat; but whether the
work of provision had thus been completed, or but partly
fulfilled, I did not learn, but I believe [ saw the commence-
ment of the work, for when I first observed the tunnel I saw
that just below its surface two galleries were excavated
opposite each other and in divergent directions, but one of
them was very shallow,—not more than an inch and a half
deep,—as I could see its end; possibly this was commenced
before the larger and deeper one, but some obstacle prevented
its completion, and so the second had to be bored. I inspected
several other borings, but each had only a single shaft, as it
were; and one thing I wish to notice, with regard to the one
upon which my chief observations are founded, namely, that
the beetle seemed to be actuated by a sort of blind instinct
throughout its proceedings, as the first three or four pellets in
the tunnel rolled into the shallow chamber, which they almost
filled, and yet the beetle never took the least notice of them
there, but always entered the deeper burrow for a short

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 135

distance whenever a pellet was disposed of, regardless of its
destination and position, thus reminding one of the story of
the owl who laid its eggs in a nest with a hole in it, each egg
falling through as it was produced. Another thing that struck
me was the immense amount of muscular power the beetle
possessed, for it often hoisted the pellet quite off the surface
of the ground over which it was pulling the treasure, especially
when any more than common obstacle stood in its way.—
G. B. Corbin.

[I wish Mr. Corbin had informed us the name of the
beetle. Was it Typhaus, Stercorarius, or Sylvaticus? Again,
I wish Mr. Corbin had given more precise information as to
the cause of death: the presence of ants is not sufficient to
account for the mortality. In walking over Woking Common
I once took the pains to count the specimens of Typhceus
which I found on the turf, and these were in the proportion
of fifteen dead ones to one live one. Another common
heath-species is often in the same disproportion. Did Mr.
Corbin ascertain whether the beetles confined themselves to
collecting pellets of rabbits’-dung? because this would be an
interesting fact, and perhaps assist in determining the species.
—EHdward Newman.)

Pollen-eating Insects.—Entomologists who consider that
a complete knowledge of insects consists in an acquaintance.
with their external form, doubt whether it is possible for
insects, and especially for those which, like the Diptera, are
not furnished with mandibles, to eat pollen. Indeed, I have
been assured, by a well-known professor at one of our great
seats of learning, that the thing is impossible, and therefore
absurd. Nature, however, is ofa different opinion from that
of the learned professor as to its impossibility. Having
satisfied myself long ago that Diptera are great consumers of
pollen, I was pleased to find a full confirmation of the fact
in the writings of the German botanist and entomologist
Hermann Miller, of Lippstadt, who has paid more attention
to the mode of fertilization of different kinds of flowers than
any other living naturalist. In his book, ‘ Die Befruchtung
der Blumen durch Insekten,’ will be found, by anyone who
can read German, a full description, accompanied by
admirable drawings, of the various contrivances by which
this is effected. The pollen-eating propensities of the

136 - THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Diptera I have found at present almost confined to the
Syrphide. In my own little garden, and in the gardens of
the Royal Botanic Society, in the Regent’s Park, I have been
in the habit, during the last few summers, of capturing
specimens of the two most common species, Hristalis tenax
and Syrphus clypeata, eviscerating them, and examining the
contents of the abdomen under the microscope, which I
found to be coloured a bright orange, by the presence of
enormous quantities ‘of the peculiar spined pollen-grains
characteristic of Composite, and evidently obtained from the
various species of Aster, over which such numbers may be
seen hovering. That they are not accidentally taken up, but
form an actual article of food for the flies, is sufficiently
proved by finding them in every stage of digestion, the fluid
contents of the pollen-grains being apparently the nutritive
substance, and the skins being ultimately excreted. Speci-
mens of several species of Muscide, captured on the flowers
of the Aster, when examined in the same manner furnished
only a very few grains of pollen, apparently sucked up acci-
dentally through the proboscis with the fluid food. During the
present spring I captured, on the flowers of the sloe, Eristalis
tenax and Andrena fulvicrus (male and female). The abdo-
men of the former was full of pollen-grains, belonging to at
least three kinds of plants,—the sloe, the dandelion, and
some large triangular pollen-grains, apparently those of
Fuchsia. The tubes of the latter species contained only a
very few grains, as was also the case with the honey-bee, the
pollen belonging in the latter case apparently to the dande-
lion. I was interested at the same time in watching the
constancy with which insects visit only the same species of
flowers on the same visit. In the case of a bank covered with
the white dead-nettle, red dead-nettle, and ground-ivy, the
white dead-nettle was visited only by one species of humble-
bee, Bombus Pratorum and Anthophora retusa; the ground-
ivy only by the hive-bee, except on two solitary occasions by
the Anthophora; while the red dead-nettle was entirely
neglected by both, the only insect observed to visit it being
a butterfly, Vanessa Urtice. An examination of the pollen
carried away on the thighs of the hive- and humble-bees con-
firmed this observation, the pollen-grains of the three species
named being particularly easy to distinguish by their colour:

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 137

that of the white dead-nettle being yellow; of the red dead-
nettle, red; and of the ground ivy, white. Similar observations,
as to the constancy of insects in confining their visits to the
same species during the same journey, have been made by
that accurate observer, Mr. Traherne Moggridge, in respect
of a species of fumitory in the South of France.—Alfred W.
Bennett ; 6, Park Village East, Regent’s Park.

[At page 60 of the first volume of the ‘Entomological
Magazine’ is a review of Professor Rennie’s “ Alphabet of
Insects,” from which it seems evident the writer did not think
professors infallible. 1 believe the fault then, as now, is to be
found in the fact that professors and teachers of all kinds
trust too much to books, and too little to observation. On the
other hand, I think there may be an error in relying too
exclusively on observation. Book-knowledge often serves to
test and to rectify observations too hastily made, and is
therefore of infinite value.—Edward Newman.]

A Parasite.—The different species of pheasants have some
most remarkable parasites infesting them, and indeed there
are few, if any, members of the vast creation which are free
from the attacks of parasites in some form or another. I
recollect finding one of extraordinary size upon a kestrel, and
I may enumerate others, as the tiny brown creatures taken
from a hen harrier, or the white elongated forms of those
found on a sheldrake; however, I have no wish to generalize
in such a way, unless I knew what the various parasites
were, but I may mention one whose occurrence interested
me more than usual. In the autumn of 1873 I had a long-
eared owl sent me, and whilst inspecting it I fancied I saw
some insect make a hurried appearance upon the breast of
the bird, and as quickly shuffle out of sight amongst the
feathers. I searched most carefully, but without success, and
I had caught only a glimpse of the creature, which from its
movements I thought was not an Acarus, even had its size not
forbidden the belief, so I determined to secure it if possible,
and the following day, after another close scrutiny, I found it
under one of the bird’s wings. It proved to be a Dipterous
fly, with body of a greenish hue, and is, [ suspect, one of the
Hippobosca genus, for in its side-long movements, its tena-
cious hold, and general outline, it seemed to proclaim itself a
relation of the “forest-fly.” I subsequently obtained two

T

138 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

more specimens of the same fly from a longeared owl, which
I preserved for a friend, in March. I may state that the
green tint of the body soon disappears when the fly is
immersed in spirits of wine. I never detected it on any
species of bird except the owl above named, but I am
informed by a friend that a fly somewhat similar, if not
identical, abounds on grouse in the Highlands.—G@. B.
Corbin.

[I do not much hésitate in expressing an opinion that this
parasite was Ornithomyia avicularia, but I shall at all times
feel greatly obliged for specimens of any of this remarkable
order of insects: they are certainly allied to Hippobosca, but
as certainly not of that genus.—Hdward Newman.]

Captures in the New Forest during parts a April,
June, July, and August, 1873.—I paid four visits to Lynd-
hurst last season: on the first two occasions the weather was
simply villanous, more especially at Whitsuntide, when a
drenching rain, combined with a rather high and not very
mild wind, rendered butterfly-hunting far from profitable, and
larva-hunting by no means pleasant, owing to the saturated
state of the bushes and trees: in spite of very favourable
weather during my other excursions I did not do as well as I
had hoped to do, and can quite endorse Mr. Tugwell’s
remarks as to the general scarcity of insects. As will be
seen, however, I did not find sugar quite so unprofitable as he
appears to have done, though it was not nearly so attractive as
in 1871. I am indebted to Mr, George Tate, of Pondhead, for
a knowledge of the locality where all my captures by means of
sugar were made, and also fora great deal of other valuable
information respecting the forest. ‘The following is a list of
my best captures. L. Sinapis was common in May and
June, but owing to bad weather at the time of my visit I only
succeeded in capturing a series. L. Sibylla, common. T.
Rubi, one. L. AZgon, very common. N. Lucina, four.
L. Testudo, one, beaten out of a beech tree. N. strigula, one
very bad specimen, at sugar. C.miniata and L. mesomella,
not rare. L. aureola, one, bred from larva. L. helveola, one.
L. quadra, larvee not uncommon in June, imago very rare; I
only know of five having been captured, two of which fell to
my share. E. cribrum, one. E. russula, one. L. monacha,
very common the only day I was able to go after it. A. pro-

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 139

dromaria, one larva. B. roboraria, three (one at sugar).
P. cytisaria, not common. H. auroraria, one. A. immutata,
notrare. C.taminata, one. M. liturata, two. T. plumaria,
abundant. lL. sexalata, one. M. albicillata, not uncommon.
P. cassinea, larve rare. N. chaonia and N. dodonea, larve.
T. derasa and batis, common. D. Orion, one, in fine con-
dition, July 17th: Is not this rather late? LL. turca, next to
M. strigilis, by far the most common insect at sugar. C. Cy-
therea, just coming out when [I left. A. caliginosa, very
common, T. fimbria, a few larve; I did not see the imago.
T. miniosa, larve not rare. H. contigua, four. H. dipsacea;
I was too late for this species, and only took one. E. fuscula,
one. C. promissa, just coming out when I left. Besides the
above I took several common species not worth mentioning.—
Bernard Lockyer ; 179, Camden Road, London, April 27,
1874.

Zeuzera Aisculi.—In the garden here, on the stem of a
small Siberian crab-tree is an orifice, from which the frass
of some larva is thrown continually: the tree is but about
four inches in circumference, the orifice about the size of a
cedar-pencil. Will you or some of your correspondents be
good enough to say if the insect is likely to be sculi, and
if its capture in the imago state may be expected to appear
this season ?—J. A. Tawell; 36, Compton Street, Islington,
April 23, 1874.

[The larva was certainly that of Zeuzera Asculi; the
moth will come out in June or July — Edward Newman.]

Is Saturnia Carpini ever Double-brooded ?—I write to you
in reference to S. Carpini to ask you if that species is ever
double-brooded, and if so whether it is unusual. I find, on
referring to Newman’s ‘ British Moths,’ it is stated that the
caterpillar feeds in August and September, the moth appear-
ing the following April. I had some moths of this species
last month, from which I obtained eggs about three weeks
ago, and some of which have hatched to-day. I may mention
that the eggs have been in a room in which a fire has been
burning.—G. W. Oldfield; Wadham College, Oxford, May
15, 1874.

[Will correspondents kindly give their experience in this
matter ?—EHdward Newman. |

Gortyna flavago at Horsham in October.—On the 15th of

140 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

last October I took two good specimens of this insect off the
gas-lamps: they were flying with Xanthia Cerago, &c. I see
that Newman gives the month of June in his ‘ British Moths,’
p. 280. [also took one on October 7th, 1872. Would you
kindly inform me if this is of frequent occurrence, or whether
the moth is double-brooded? All three seemed fresh from
the chrysalis; and I have never seen a June specimen.—
D. Price; West Street, Horsham, May 7, 1874.

[Mr. Price will find a paper on this subject at p. 121 of the
present number.—Lidward Newman.]

Scolosia Certata.—I netted a specimen of this insect here,
on May 11th, when the weather was raw and cold.—W.
Macmillan; Castle Cary, Somerset, May 14, 1874.

Variety of Pieris Rape.—On the 15th of March, in the
present year, a good specimen of Pieris Rapz was found
in-doors, at Billingford Rectory, East Dereham, Norfolk, at
about half-past ten o’clock at night. It is one inch seven
lines in the expansion of the wings; it has the markings of
the ordinary Rape, but the wings on the upper side are of a
dull yellowish tint, more so than 1 have ever seen in this
species, whereas all the wings on the under side are of a
yellow, very nearly as bright as that of the male Rhamni.
Can you give me any information about this?—E. S. Dash-
wood; Billingford Rectory, East Dereham, Norfolk, May
2, 1874.

[I can hardly express an opinion from this description.
The under side of Pieris Rape is yellower than the upper
side; but a variety of this species is occasionally found
of an intensely bright yellow on the upper side. The
late Mr. Curtis possessed such a _ specimen.— Hdward
Newman. |

Supposed Death-watch—The beetle sent is Dermestes
murinus. It is not known to me as the author of that ticking
which is called the “death-watch.” If, therefore, the state-
ment made by “A Good Observer” can be authenticated by a
real name and address, it will be interesting and acceptable.
Without such authentication I cannot publish it.—Hdward
Newman.

Gall of Andricus quadrilineatus (H.) in Essex.—This gall
was first noticed as British by Mr. Traill last year (Ent. Mo.
Mag. x. 39), who met with it at Aberdeen. I am now finding

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 141

it commonly here on the male flowers of the oak. Its occur-
rence first in a northern locality, and in a southern one when
looked for, must tend to show that it is widely distributed
over the country, and would no doubt be found to be so, were
the Cynipide more studied by British entomologists. Dr.
Mayr’s description and figures of the gall will no doubt
appear in a later number of the ‘ Entomologist.’ I hope the
reproduction of the excellent figures in his work will call
entomologist’s attention to the study of British galls, their
makers, and parasites—Hdward A. Fitch; Down Hail,
Raleigh, Essex, May 9, 1874.

Correction of an Error.—May L ask you to state that all
the Aphides marked “females” in my list of desiderata,
inserted in your May number, are required to be “ winged
females,” except Schizoneura vagans, unless they should be
oviparous females. Your readers are doubtless aware that
Aphides occur under five forms, namely, as larve, pupe,
winged females, winged males, and wingless oviparous
females. The three first are oviparous, and have incomplete
sexual characters; the two last are to be regarded as the
mature individuals of the series—G. B. Buckton; Wey-
combe, Haslemere, May 5, 1874.

Extract from the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of
London, March 19, 1874.

Dr. G. J. Allman, F.R.S., in the chair.

Economy of Bees and Wasps.—Sir John Lubbock read
some “ Observations on Bees and Wasps.” The paper com-
menced by pointing out, with reference to the power of
communication with one another, said to be possessed by
Hymenoptera, that the observations on record scarcely justify
the conclusions which have been drawn from them. In
support of the opinion that ants, bees, and wasps, possess a
true language, it is usually stated that if one bee discovers a
store of honey, the others are soon aware of the fact. This,
however, does not necessarily imply the possession of any
power of describing localities, or anything which could
correctly be called a language. If the bees or wasps merely
follow their fortunate companions, the matter is simple

142 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

enough. If, on the contrary, the others are sent, the case
will be very different. To test this, Sir John kept honey in a
given place for some time, in order to satisfy himself that it
would not readily be found by the bees, and then brought a
bee to the honey, marking it so that he could ascertain
whether it brought others or sent them, the latter, of course,
implying a much higher order of intelligence and power of
communication. After trying the experiment several times
with single bees and obtaining only negative results, Sir John
Lubbock procured one of Marriott’s observatory-hives, which
he placed in his sitting-room. The bees had free access to
the open air; but there was also a small side or postern door,
which could be opened at pleasure, and which led into the
room. This enabled him to feed and mark any particular
bees ; and he recounted a number of experiments, from which
it appeared that comparatively few bees found their own way
through the postern, while of those which did so the great
majority flew to the window, and scarcely any found the
honey for themselves. Those, on the contrary, which were
taken to the honey, passed backwards and forwards between
it and the hive, making, on an average, five journeys in the
hour. Sir John had also in a similar manner watched a
number of marked wasps, with very similar results. These,
and other observations of the same tendency, appear to show
that, even if bees and wasps have the power of informing one
another when they discover a store of good food, at any rate
they do not habitually do so; and this seemed to him a
strong reason for concluding that they are not in the habit of
communicating facts. When once wasps had made themselves
thoroughly acquainted with their way, their movements were
most regular. They spent three minutes supplying themselves
with honey, and then flew straight to the nest, returning after
an interval of about ten minutes, and thus making, like the
bees, about five journeys an hour. During September they
began in the morning at about six o’clock, and later when the
mornings began to get cold, and continued to work without
intermission till dusk. They made, therefore, rather more than
fifty journeys in the day. Sir John had also made some
experiments on the behaviour of bees introduced into strange
hives, which seemed to contradict the ordinary statement that
strange bees are always recognized and attacked. Another

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 143

point, as to which very different opinions have been pro-
pounded, is the use of the antenne. Some entomologists
have regarded them as olfactory organs, some as ears, the
weight of authority being perhaps iu favour of the latter
opinion. In experimenting on his wasps and bees, Sir John,
to his surprise, could obtain no evidence that they heard at
all. He tried them with a shrill pipe, with a whistle, with a
violin, with all the sounds of which his voice was capable,
doing so, moreover, within a few inches of their head; but
they continued to feed without the slightest appearance of
consciousness. Lastly, he recounted some observations
showing that bees have the power of distinguishing colours.
The relations of insects to flowers imply that the former can
distinguish colour; but there had been as yet but few direct
observations on the point.

Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society
of London, April 6, 1874.
Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., President, in the
chair.

Andrena tibialis and Stylops.—Mr. Frederick Smith com-
municated to the Society the fact of his having captured
seven specimens of Andrena tibialis, on Hampstead Heath,
on the previous Friday, April 5rd, two being females and five
males. One of the females had the exuvie of two males of
Stylops remaining in the abdomen, the other female had had
one male of Stylops, and also a female which of course
remained in the abdomen of the bee. Of the male Andrena,
one contained two females, a second having one of the same
sex remaining in its abdomen. Mr. Smith mentioned this
circumstance to give collectors of Coleoptera an opportunity
of capturing the rare Stylops; and recommended searching
for Stylopized bees between the hours of nine and twelve in
the morning, as, according to his experience, the Stylops
always emerged from the body of the bee on the day on
which the latter first quitted its nest, should the day be
bright and sunny; and he also mentioned the fact of his
never having captured a bee which had a male Stylops
remaining in its abdomen at a later hour of the day than

144 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

twelve o’clock. He had himself bred Stylops five or six
times, and had never done so later than the month of April,
always having captured the attacked, or infested, bees early
in the day. On one occasion he bred a Stylops on the same
day on which he had captured the infested Andrena, conveying
the bee home, shut up in a pill-box ; then, on arriving at home,
he had placed the bee in the sun, enclosed in a wooden box
having a glass lid; when, in the course of half an hour, the
Stylops quitted the body of the bee. On other occasions he
had kept Stylopized bees in pill-boxes the whole of the day
of capture, but on placing them in a good-sized glass-topped
box, and supplying the bee with a few fresh flowers, the
Stylops had emerged early the following morning. The
President remarked that he had once found a large number
of bees in the afternoon at dusk, some of which contained
male Stylops, but on that occasion the morning had been wet
and dull, and therefore the bees had probably only just made
their appearance. Some further discussion ensued, during
which the President stated that during flight the males do not
move the rudimentary anterior wings (or “ elytra”).

Insects Destructive to Coffee Plantations.—Some further
remarks were communicated by Mr. Gooch, of Natal, respect-
ing the ravages of a Longicorn beetle in the coffee plantations
there, which gave rise to a discussion as to whether the larve
of Longicorn beetles attack healthy wood or not, a remark
having been made by Mr. Newman in the ‘ Entomologist’
that, according to his experienee of fifty years, he had never
found the larve of Longicorn beetles in decayed wood, or
those of Lamellicorn beetles in sound wood. Mr. M‘Lachlan
stated that from his own observations healthy wood was not
attacked by British species of the family, though there were
exceptions, such as Saperda populnea. Mr. Smith remarked
that he once attempted to sit upon a rail, which broke under
him, when it was found to be infested with Rhagium bifas-
ciatum, and was completely rotten; and the President had
experienced the same thing in Turkey with regard to a chair,
which was destroyed by Longicorn larve. Mr. Janson
thought that the larve of Longicorns do not attack wood
rotten from other causes; but Mr. M‘Lachlan understood
Mr. Newman’s observation to refer to living and healthy
trees.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Nowt3i.j°* JULY, MDCC@MmEATV. [Pron 6d.

Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s
‘Die Mitteleuropiischen Eichengallen’ by Mrs. HUBERT
HERKOMER née WEISE.

III. Bup-Gatys,

(On twigs that are two years old or more, or on the trunks.)
Cynips Hartigi.—T his beautifully-
shaped gall is developed from grow-
ing buds on the branches and stem
of Quercus sessiliflora, chiefly on
their under side: it appears as a half
or three-quarter sphere of three centi-
metres in diameter; it is of a dark
brown colour, tinged with bluish
white; it has numerous short conical
projections, and is firmly attached to
the branch at the base by a very short
foot-stalk. On detaching this gall
from the twig the bud-scales are
always found. A section of this gall
exhibits in the centre a hard, white,
spherical, inner gall, about the size
of a pea, which is attached to the
twig by a short foot-stalk; it always
contains a single larva-cell; an exte-
rior surface is covered with many
small rugosities and shallow furrows ;
from each of the little excrescences
issues a brown (at first green) stalk,
about one millemetre in diameter, and
from three to four millemetres in
length; this stalk gradually thickens Cyxres Harrict.

VOL, VII. U

Fig. 10.

146 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

into a club of the same tint; in appearance it resembles
a blossom-bud, and is from four to seven millemetres in
diameter, with a spongy interior, the upper extremity being
conical, and terminating in a point; therefore as these
conical projections constitute the exterior surface of the
gall, and as each club radiates, they form altogether a
spherical or hemispherical gall covered with short cones.
The individual clubs are so closely fastened together that
it is impossible to introduce the point of a pin into the
gall without damaging its structure. When in a fresh green
state, as I have found it in May, it may be readily detached,
but the dead gall, when found at midsummer, is so hard and
brittle that in attempting to cut or detach it in dry weather
the clubs are very liable to separate and come off. The gall-
maker has assumed the perfect state in December, but does
not emerge and use its wings until the following March.—G.
L. Mayr.
Cynips Truncicola.x—This spherical gall is found, although
rarely, on the branches and twigs of
Fig. 11. Quercus pubescens, and is always
seated on growing buds. It is about
the size of a pea, or perhaps a little
larger; it is of a brownish _ black
colour, with a deeply-furrowed surface ;
between these clefts the inner gall is
frequently visible. The fissured part,
covering the inner gall like a layer of
bark, is remarkable for the somewhat
symmetrical form which it assumes,
appearing as equilateral triangles,
Cynrps Truncrcora. meeting each other at central points:
Seen above and sideways, on the basal half of the gall this bark-
and with some magnified 4 Joris cracked into triangular, square
under-facets. . : : ae
and sometimes almost circular, divi-
sions. The interior gall is horny and thin; it has a rough,
tuberculated surface, and contains one large larva-cell. Both
my description and figure are made from type specimens,
which Dr. Giraud had the kindness to send me. He thinks
it possible that this gall may prove a crippled form of Cynips
Hartigi.— G. L. Mayr.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST 147

Notes on the Wing-bones of the Two-winged Flies.
By Francis Waker, Esq.

(Continued from p. 128.)

Bones. AREOLETS.
j Mediastinal. B_ Subcostal.
g Subcostal. K Radial.
k Radial. C’ Cubital, 1st.
ce Cubital. C” Cubital, 2nd.
ce’ Cubital, 1st branch. B’ Prebrachial.
«’’ Cubital, 2nd branch. B” Pobrachial.
a’ Prebrachial, 1st branch. D Subapical.
d’’ Prebrachial, 2nd branch. Yen Anal.
m Pobrachial, 1st branch. V_ Subanal.
y Pobrachial, 2nd branch. I Discal.
v Anal.

w Subaxillary.

Fig. 25.—Limnobia.

Fig. 26.—Limnophila.

148 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Fig. 27.--Ptychoptera.

Fig. 28.—Rhyphus.

Fig. 29.—Sargus cuprarius.

Fig. 30.—Nemotelus pantherinus.

In Limnobia and in Limnophila (figs. 25, 26) it will be
seen that the general arrangement of the wing-bones is like
that of Dixa, and that the prebrachial is forked in Dixa and
in Limnophila, and is undivided in Limnobia. The numerous
variations of these bones in Limnobia are considered as
sections by Meigen, and as genera by more recent authors.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 149

In this figure of Limnobia there are two radial areolets, and
in that of Limnophila there are three, owing to the radial
bone being simple in the former and forked in the latter.
The discal areolet is absent in some sections or genera, and
also in Ptychoptera (fig. 27). This genus differs much from
Limnobia and Limnopbila in the shortness of the prabrachial
and the pobrachial areolets, and the cubital bone is forked,
and the radial is approximate to the costa. In Rhyphus
(fig. 28) the radial ceases much before the tip of the wing,
and the discal areolet is very large. Sargus and Nemotelus
(figs. 29, 30) are distinguished by the approximation of the
mediastinal, subcostal, radial, and cubital bones, and by the
more or less abbreviation of the hinder bones. In ‘ Diptera
Britannica’ the second branch of the pobrachial is the sub-
anal, and the prebrachial and pobrachial are termed the first
and second externo-medial. In fig. 27 the letter d” corre-
sponds to / in fig. 28, where there is an intermediate bone (7)
between the forks of the subanal.
Francis WALKER,

Netherland Insects. Translated from the Dutch of Christian
Sepp, by Epwin BrrcuaLt, Esq.

“ Der DENNE PyLSTAARTE NACHT VLINDER.”
The Fir-tree Arrow-tail Moth (Sphinx Pinastri).

§ 1.—Ir often happens that the discoverer in the arts and in
the sciences, whilst he is busy in some enquiry or other, un-
expectedly by that means makes a new discovery in quite a
different direction, of which he had before never once thought,
let alone the seeking after it. Even so has it happened to the
student of insects. Frequently one seeks an already well-
known insect on shrubs where it should be found, and,
behold! one finds, instead of that or of the like of it, a quite
other, and sometimes a much more agreeable sort: a circum-
stance which causes this study to become so much more
enticing. This very thing happened to me with regard to the
present insect. In the autumn of 1763 I was with my son out-
side Naarden, at the great country house of Kraailo; seeking
the grubs of the Anomalus-moth (Fidonia Piniaria) on the pine
or fir-trees: we discovered on these trees, for the first time,

150 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

the caterpillars of the fir-tree arrow-tail moth. I cannot well
express with words how delighted we were, and the more so
as we supposed that this insect did not dwell at all in this
country, but, as we knew already, in Germany. We found a
small caterpillar on a fir-leaf, and observing that it had a
horn on the tail we could come to no other conclusion but
that it must be the caterpillar of the fir-tree arrow-tail moth,
although somewhat pale; the smallness of the caterpillar
showed that it had not escaped from the egg many hours.
Through this new discovery, uncommonly encouraged, we
‘ became very zealous in searching for this insect, and found
several of its eggs, but these were, to our sorrow, impregnated
with strange eggs, and consequently perished: another new
discovery,—a very strange phenomenon,—at which we won-
dered not a little; for that the caterpillars should be impreg-
nated with eggs of wasps and flies, and thus become destroyed,
was a Well-known fact, but that the eggs also of some flies
should have to submit to this lot seemed to us paradoxical
and incomprehensible. I shall, further on, speak more on
this subject, but must now consider the history of this insect.
After some search we found other two of these caterpillars,
the one much greater than the first and probably already
twice changed, the other nearly full grown. These three cater-
pillars having been fed carefully with the fir-leaf, and having
grown large, we saw, to our great delight, that towards the
end of September two of them crept into the earth and
became pupe, but the third died still young. The two pupze
remained all winter in the ground, and on the 6th July
following there came out of the one a beautiful and lively
moth, but the other brought forth a so-called bacon-eater
(being a certain kind of wasp), with whose eggs this cater-
pillar had been impregnated.

§ 2.—The complete house-holding of this insect, from the
very egg to the last or flying state, was now sufficiently
known to us, except that we had not yet seen any undamaged
eggs; but in the year 1767, on the 12th July, we found two
good eggs, out of which the caterpillars came on the 21st of
the same month, which we brought up until they were
almost full grown, when, however, they died. But in the
following year, 2nd July, a great and eminent amateur gave
us a still better opportunity of observing the house-holding

aaa

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 151]

of this insect, and I openly express my thanks to him on
that account. This gentleman furnished me with sixty of
these eggs, together with the female fly which had laid them.
On the 8th July all the caterpillars appeared. Five or six
days before the caterpillar comes out the egg begins to
change colour only, and becomes dark brown at the place
where the head of the caterpillar is, then again slowly brighter,
and at last as clear as glass, so that the grub is seen in it most
plainly; and I have pictured it at fig. 2, as it appears under
a good magnifying-glass. Not less plainly is seen the move-
ment of the dark spot under the head, which is the mouth of
the caterpillar. The little animal is then trying to make a
little hole in the top of the egg, and as soon as this is big
enough for it to put its head through, the little caterpillar
creeps out of it. Just after it is born it is of a yellow colour,
with a dark brown head, and has a white horn bent forward
on its tail, but this shortly afterwards becomes coal-black,
and is split above on the point, or rather it has there two fine
little points, which anyone who is sharp-sighted can see with
the naked eye. This just-born fir-tree arrow-tail grub is
shown at fig. 3. Most of these little caterpillars, after they
are hatched, let the empty egg-shell lie, without making any
further use of it; some, however, ate it up greedily; some
even were not satisfied with their own egg-cover, but con-
sumed also those of others. After consuming this breakfast
the fir-tree needles are afterwards their special food, when,
being still young, they feed in the manner aforesaid, like the
caterpillar of the Anomalus fly (Fidonia Piniaria), in that they
eat more at the edges of the spines, but afterwards, when they
have become older and bigger, they eat them off cross-wise,
beginning from above at the point and going thus down,
leaving often a morsel of the spine at the foot. The growth of
this caterpillar lasts above four weeks, within which time they
moult four times, usually about every six or seven days: at
each moult they eat up all the cast-off skins. After the first
change the caterpillar appears striped with green, like fig. 4;
after the second and third moults the stripes become longer
and more distinct, and the little horn still remains forked at
the point, as is pictured at fig. 5, magnified; but after the
fourth, or last change, the rosy stripe on the back and the
narrow black rings first come in sight. The little horn,

152 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

which at the birth of the caterpillar was bent forwards, and
after that stood almost straight up, is now bent backwards,
and is no longer forked, but ends in one sharp point. Full
grown, the caterpillar appears like fig. 6. Here I must
observe that all fir-tree arrow-tail caterpillars are not exactly
marked like this: on some the stripes run right through to
the reverse side of the body, whilst here they are shown
broken up into little patches; however, besides this, there is
no other difference in the markings.

§ 3.—This insect, having completed its life as caterpillar,
and being now about to undergo its first transformation, or
become a pupa, creeps into the ground, and there makes this
change, in the same way as I have already described this
operation in the description of other arrow-tails. As pupa, it
appears in the shape, size and colour of fig. 7, having this
remarkable peculiarity, that the sheath of the sucker of the
moth, which dwells in the pupa, is somewhat separated from
the body, and scarcely stuck fast to it by the thick end, there
being consequently a small opening between them. This is
also the case with the pupz of the “liguster” and bindweed
arrow-tail moth, but not with others. The fir-tree arrow-tail
pup remain all winter laid in the ground, and the moths
come out late in the following summer. ‘This second change
occurs also in all points like that of other moths, so I need
not make any further remark about it here.

§ 4.—Our fir-tree arrow-tail moth now having left the
pupal membrane, and its wings having obtained their proper
stiffness, appears, when at rest, like fig. 8, that being a female,
which by its thicker abdomen alone is sufficiently distinguish-
able from the male, this latter being seen flying at fig. 9. The
antenne differ very little in the sexes, but those of the
male are a little thicker and rather more downy. With regard
to the marking of this insect, it seems at first sight to be
always alike, but if one looks at it a little closer one finds
here and there a little difference: the ground colour, namely,
is not the same exactly in all; a property, which this sort has
in common with by far most other sorts.

§ 5.—With regard to our new discovery about the impreg-
nation of eggs of some moths with foreign eggs, of which I
made mention in the beginning, I have not yet found any-
thing like it in any describer of insects; consequently this

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 153
phenomenon must be quite unknown to them, as they give a
full account of the impregnation of caterpillars with foreign
eggs. Ata time when we knew nothing about the impregna-
tion of insects’ eggs, we found some eggs of the fir-tree
arrow-tail moth, which were blackish or iron-coloured, and
these first caused us to suspect that something strange must
have happened to them, for we well knew that the arrow-tail
eggs had not this colour, either when empty or when full:
therefore we looked at them very narrowly, and, behold, we
discovered in each egg an uncommonly small hole, out of
which it was impossible for a caterpillar to have crept. But
what then? Without doubt, nothing else but one or more
of the very smallest wasps. However, this was simply a
guess; but the same day we were convinced of the truth of
the matter, for shortly after we found one of these eggs, out
of which apparently the caterpillar had come, and which
was an empty shell, as clear and white as glass, the hole or
opening therein being proportionately wide to the size of the
caterpillar, which had made its escape through it. This
strengthened not a little our guess; but what settled the
matter was this, namely, we discovered on a fir-spine seven
small eggs of the moth, whose caterpillar is called the
jumping-caterpillar (“spring-rups”). They are as big as the
smallest pins’-heads, or so-called gnat feet: these eggs were
likewise iron-coloured, and, looking very closely at them, we
saw also in them a right small hole, out of which no cater-
pillar could have come; immediately afterwards we found a
small shoal of these eggs on an oak-leaf, having the same
quality ; but luckily there were some of them which had not
yet any hole in them. These we kept, when we got home, in
a glass well pasted up at the top; and, behold, in two days
the wasps actually came out of them, uncommonly small,
yellow in colour, with round shining wings. The affair was
settled; and the fact was proved, by this discovery, that the
eggs of insects are impregnated with the seed or with the
eggs of other insects, and thereby destroyed.

§ 6.—Just consider how small an egg must be which is of
the size of the very smallest pin’s-head; how, beyond
measure, small the little hole therein, out of which the little
wasp has crept,—so very small, that it can hardly be detected
by the sharpest sight; how uncommonly small the wasp;

x

154 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

and, besides that, beyond all imagination, how unspeakably
small the eggs of these wasps, and the holes they make by
the ovipositor in the shell of the egg, through which they
shove their eggs. Just consider how, in all these trifles, a
perfect Omnipotence reigns. But what does it matter to us,
some light spirit may ask, that we know and think about
this: could we get anything useful out of it? I reply—Yes,
certainly! For, first, whenever we contemplate such mar-
vellous wonders, the question forces itself upon us—Who can
have brought these all so perfectly to pass, and ordered it so
wonderfully? The answer can be nothing else but—Surely
an Almighty God! Would not this bear us up, and sustain
us when wavering in the faith? In the second place, there
flows from this truth that the wonders of God are not less
unspeakably great in the smallest trifles than in the greatest
phenomena of Nature; so that it may well be said—
““EiMINET IN MINIMIS MAXIMUS ILLE Devs.”

Notes on the Macro-Lepidoptera of Litbeck. By ARTHUR
W. Pau, Esq.

On perusing the title of these few remarks, the mind of the
reader will naturally revert to the Baltic shores—the home of
our Saxon forefathers—and to the fine old town, the capital
of the republic, bearing the same name, which some four
hundred years ago held an important position amongst
maritime cities, by virtue of its being at the head of the
Hanseatic League ; and the Senate, composed of the deputies
from eighty-nine free cities, which met within its walls,
assembled to lay down the law,—certainly as far as commerce
was concerned,—which was ‘recognized by the sea-ports of
Northern Germany and of the adjacent countries. That was
a time when Liibeck could look down upon her sister city,
Hamburg, with feelings of superiority and pride; but Fate
the inexorable, in her dealings with nations, has made Liibeck
no exception to the general rule; and the dissolution of the
Hanseatic League in 1630, together with the mischievous
results of French rule from 1810 to 1813, have done much to
humble the once powerful city ; and from having a population
of two hundred thousand souls, with a position as a sea-coast

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 155

town second to none in Europe, it has sunk to a provincial
town with barely thirty thousand inhabitants.

This is not, however, the place to enlarge upon the historical
features of bye-gone times; and my endeavour now will be to
enumerate, as far as the experience of a single season will
allow me, the Lepidopterous insects to be met with in the
district.

The greater part of Liibeck territory (one hundred and ten
square miles in all) consists of forests. These are of two
kinds: the pine forests, which consist of large tracts of land
planted with the common pine (Pinus sylvestris), interspersed
here and there with small clumps of larch, and intersected
with rough grassy roads; and secondly, woods, more like
those we are accustomed to see in England, composed
entirely of deciduous trees, with wide breadths of underwood
flourishing beneath them. One misses, however, the gigantic
form of the lord of the English forest—the oak, which never
attains the size it reaches in England; but this is in part
compensated for by the magnificent lime trees to be found
commonly in the neighbourhood, and of dimensions which we
never meet with in this country.

With these few cursory observations I will proceed with
my subject; but I would first remark that the list which
follows is far from large, and must not be taken by any
means as exhaustive of the subject; still, as far as it goes, I
think reliance may be placed upon it, as nothing is stated
excepting from my own experience, or on authority which I
know to be unimpeachable. The Noctue named are few in
number: this is owing to my not having had recourse to
sugaring; had I followed out this method, without doubt the
number of species would have been considerably augmented.
Commencing then with Diurni, the first on the list is—

Argynnis Paphia.—Abundant in woods. I had the good
fortune to capture a specimen of the dark variety, Valezina:
this is far from common.

A, Aglaia.—Common in grassy openings in the woods;
flying only in hot sunshine.

A. Niobe.—Local, and in no particular abundance.

A, Adippe.—Common.

A. Lathonia.—Common everywhere; quite a garden in-
sect; where met with in woods preferring rough pieces of

156 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

ground devoid of vegetation, and to all appearance very
unattractive.

A. Euphrosyne and A. Selene.—Met with in abundance.

A. Ino.—Tolerably common; no doubt often passed by as
Euphrosyne, which it so closely resembles.

Melitea Cinzia.—Local, and not superabundant.

M. Athalia.—Local, but most profusely abundant where it
occurs.

Vanessa Urtice, V. Polychloros, and V. Io.—Common.

V. Antiopa.—Generally considered a rare insect; but in
the autumn of 1872 it put in an appearance in some plenty.
I met with some hybernated specimens in the spring of 1873,
but none in the autumn of that year.

Pyrameis Atalanta and P. Cardui.—Not common.

Limenitis Sibylla.—This beautiful species is to be met
with in tolerable plenty.

Apatura Iris—Not common; only to be found in one
wood.

Erebia Medea.—Scarce.

Pyrarga Megera.—Common.

Epinephele Janira, E. Tithonus, and EL. Hyperanthus.—
Common; the last named especially so.

Chortobius Pamphilus.—1n abundance.

Thecla Quercus.—Said to be common, but I never met
with it.

T. Ilicis.—Very abundant.

Polyommatus Phleas and P. Dorylas.—Common.

Lycena.— Of this genus I met with few species: Medon,
Icarus, Adonis, and Argiolus, I believe to occur in tolerable
abundance.

Colias Hyale.—Not uncommon.

C. Edusa—Scarce.

Rhodocera Rhamni.—Excessively abundant.

Papilio Machaon.—Variable ; some seasons very common,
at others comparatively scarce. The larva is found com-
monly feeding on carrot in gardens, and it appears to be by
no means exclusively a marsh insect, as in England.

P. Podalirius.—This is sometimes common, but I did not
meet with any.

Leucophasia Sinapis.—Scarce.

Anthocharis Cardamines.—Very common.

oat

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 157

Pieris Daplidice, P. Napi, P. Rape, and P. Brassice.—
Common.

Aporia Crategi.—Considered scarce. I caught two speci-
mens only, but no doubt passed by many more, taking them
for pale specimens of R. Rhamni, which was very abundant
at the time.

Hesperia.—Of this genus I know Malve, Sylvanus, and
Linea, to occur commonly ;.Comma is also said to be met
with, but I cannot speak from experience.

Smerinthus ocellatus and S. Populi.—Tolerably abundant.

S. Tilie.—Very common.

Acherontia Atropos.—Not common.

Sphinx Convolvult.—As in England,—uncertain.

S. Ligustrit.—Common.

S. Pinastri.—Common in pine forests.

Deilephila Euphorbie.—Not to be met with in Liibeck
territory ; but on the Harburg side of the River Elbe, not far
from Hamburg, this species is said to occur commonly.

Cherocampa Elpenor and C. Porcellus.—Not common,

C. Nerwi.—Very scarce.

Macroglossa Stellatarum.—Tolerably abundant.

Zeuzera Esculi.—Scarce.

Cossus ligniperda.— Not common.

Hepialus hectus, H. lupulinus, and H. Humuli.—Not
uncommon.

Limacodes Testudo.—I caught two specimens.

Zygena Lonicere.—Common.

Z. Filipendule.—Very common,

Lithosia mesomella.—Common.

L. aureola.—Not uncommon.

LL. quadra.—Scarce.

Euthemonia russulan—Common.

Liparis monacha.—Very common. Any quantity might
be taken, in the season, at rest on lime tree trunks during
the day.

Orgyia pudibunda.— Common.

Bombyx Rubi.—The larva very common in the autumn,
feeding on clover.

Endromis versicolor.—Very scarce.

Epione vespertarian—Common where it occurs, but I
could find only one locality for this exquisite little “beauty.”

158 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Venilia maculata.—Very abundant.

Eurymene dolobraria.—Common.

Pericallia syringaria.—Tolerably common.

Selenia illustraria.—One specimen.

Ennomos angularia.—Not uncommon.

Biston hirtaria.—Common.

Amphydasis prodromaria.—Scarce.

A. betularia.—Common.

Cleora lichenaria, Tephrosia crepuscularia, T’. extersaria,
Ephyra porala, and Acidalia ornata.—One specimen of
each.

A. emarginata.—Local, and not abundant.

Timandra amataria.—Very common.

Cabera pusaria and C. exanthemaria.—Very abundant.

Corycia taminata, Macaria liturata, M. notata, and
Numeria pulveraria.—One specimen of each.

Fidonia atomarta.—Common.

F., piniarta.—Very abundant in pine forests.

F. pinetaria.—One specimen.

Lythria purpuraria.—Very common.

Lomaspilis marginata.—Common.

Hybernia leucophearia.—One specimen.

HI. progemmaria.—Very abundant.

Lobophora lobulata.—One specimen.

Melanthia albicillataa—Common.

M. subtristata.—Abundant.

M. montanata.—Very common.

Anticlea badiata.—Common.

Scotosia certata and Cidaria ribesiaria.—One specimen.

Eubolia mensuraria.—Very common.

Platypteryx hamula.—Scarce.

Dicranura vinula.—Not uncommon.

Notodonta camelina and N. Ziczac.—Common.

Acronycta Aceris.—Very common.

Leucania lithargyria.— Common.

Cerigo Cytherea.—One specimen.

Tryphena orbona and T. pronuba.—Very abundant.

T. fimbria.—N ot so common.

Teniocampa miniosa.—One specimen.

Xanthia cerago and Miselia Oxyacanthe.—Common.

Agriopis Aprilina.—Abundant.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 159

Brephos notha.—Commonly met with in the woods, flying
in the sunshine in early spring; it has a partiality for settling
on the sandy roads which traverse the woods, and is very
easy to capture.

Plusia chrysitis and P. Gamma.—Very abundant.

P. Iota.—Not uncommon.

Gonoptera Libatrix.—Common.

Amphipyra pyramidea and A, Tragopogonis.— Very
common.

Catephia Alchymista.—Scarce.

C. Fraxini.— Used to occur amongst poplars in one
locality. I have seen specimens taken there, but in 1872 the
poplars were removed, and the insect has disappeared.

C. nupta.—Very abundant.

C. promissa.—Very scarce.

Euclidia Mi and E. Glyphica.—Common.

Halias prasinana.—Abundant.

I cannot speak with certainty with reference to the
abundance or scarcity of those species of which I took but
one specimen.

Many of our commonest English insects are absent from
the above list: especially conspicuous by their absence are
such as Caja, Lubricipeda, Menthastri, Auriflua, Antiqua,
Neustria, &c. I can only say that I never met with them,
but I should not like it to be inferred from this that they do
not occur.

I imagine that collectors of Neuroptera and Diptera would
have a great treat, especially in the pine forests. I was
terribly annoyed by several individuals, which I referred to
the latter order, some of them inflicting as much pain by their
bites as a surgeon’s lancet.

ARTHUR Wo. Pauvt.

Waltham Cross.

[I think the absence of the undermentioned butterflies, so
familiar to English entomologists, may also be mentioned :—
Galathea, Egeria, Semele, and Rubi; as well as the more
local Artemis, C-Album, Epiphron, Lucina, and Betule.—
Edward Newman.|

160 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

A Few Days in East Sussex. By W. H. TuGwett, Esq.

THE early part of this June I spent six days entomologizing
in East Sussex. The district is well wooded, and Lepidoptera
appeared to abound; for although I was a perfect stranger in
the locality, and had to find out the best spots, my captures
were very satisfactory. My principal object was to find the
rare and pretty Agrotera nemoralis, and I succeeded in taking
a fine series of that species, as well as many other good
things, as the following list will show.

Diurni.—In this family most of the early species were well
represented ; some, as Euphrosyne and Selene, were in pro-
fusion, three or four on a head of Ajuga reptans at a time.
Athalia was not common; possibly too early for it. ‘Tattered
Rhamni were trying to make the most of their remaining
days, and flew about briskly; I also found half-fed larve of
this species. Cardamines were not numerous. Of the Lycene
only two species put in an appearance, Agestis and Alexis;
and of the skippers, Alveolus, Tages, and Sylvanus, were
common.

Nocturni.—In this family my best captures, Statices and
Trifolii, abounded in the meadows. Nola cristulalis and
Strigula, not common. L. mesomella and Aureola; one larva
of Quadra; whilst Rubricollis were flying in abundance over
the taller oaks. C. Plantaginis gambolled in the sunshine;
two Villica, flying in the hottest mid-day, when their bright
colours showed off splendidly; and a male and female
Bombyx Rubi; the sexes of this species appear at different
times of the day,—the male may be often seen flying madly
along during the afternoon, whilst the female flies at dusk.

The term Nocturni always appears, to my mind, a most
inapplicable one, as the greater number are most decidedly
day-flyers; and the grouping, too, brings strange fellowship,
both as to habit and character. The old families, Sphingina
and Bombyces, had a “raison @étre,” that was far more
natural in general appearance. -

Geometre.—The following species fell to my net:—
E. adornaria, Dolobraria, Lunaria, Bidentata, Consortaria,
Extersaria, Porata, Pendularia and Orbicularia, Sylvata,
Pulveraria, five species of Eupithecia, M. hastata, and many
of general distribution, —

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 161

Drepanule.—P. Lacertula and Falcula, with C. spinula,
represented this small family.

Noctue.—The season for Noctue had scarcely arrived, and
the hot, dry, calm nights, were not propitious for sugar, so
that my captures were not numerous. T. Batis, A. Aceris,
C. Or, C. Duplaris, a very fine var. of G. Trilinea, and a
few very common species, were all I observed.

Pyrales.—K. octomaculalis, A. nemoralis, Pandalis, Lan-
cealis and Fuscalis, with several common species, complete
my captures; and, for so short a stay, show that East Sussex
is a good entomological locality.

W. H. Tuewe tt.

8, Lewisham Road, Greenwich, S.E.

Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.

Migration of Bulterflies—June 4th. This morning very
large numbers of white butterflies—of two species, Pieris
Brassice and P. Rape, the latter, however, greatly pre-
dominating—came into the North Lincolnshire marshes from
the Yorkshire coast of the Humber (which, opposite this
point, is from four and a half to five miles across). For an
hour that I was near the sea embankment they were con-
stantly passing inland, flying, too, against a rather stiff
south-west breeze. Looking towards the centre of the river
with a strong glass I could distinguish flights of them far
away, flickering in the blaze of sunlight, against the gray
background of water, like falling snow-flakes. I remember a
very similar immigration of white butterflies into these
marshes in the dry summer of 1870.—John Cordeaux ;
Great Cotes, Ulceby, June 6, 1874.

Pyrarga Egeria (Entom vii. 129).—There is a plantation a
little distance from this town where, amongst many other
things both rare and common, Pyrarga Egeria may be met
with in some abundance, and, contrary to the experience of
your correspondent Mr. Harwood, the insect seems of late to
have increased in numbers in this particular locality. In
fact, I have always regarded it as one of the common species,
and have seldom taken the trouble to procure any. In some
pasture-land adjoining the wood, Melitza Artemis was at one
time to be found in great profusion; but for the last two or

ag

162 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

three years I have searched in vain for it: I am at a loss to
account for its sudden disappearance. Latterly cows have
been turned into the meadow. Is it possible that they have
destroyed the pupxe?—Joseph Anderson, jun.; Alresford,
Hants.

Variety of Pieris Rape (Entom. vii. 140).—The yellow
variety of P. Rape is far from uncommon; I take it frequently
here. I think myself it is a food variation, due to the larve
having fed on turnips, as almost all the specimens I have
were found flying over turnip-fields. I have, however, never
taken it except in the autumn.—W. Douglas Robinson-
Douglas; Orchardton, Castle Douglas, June 12, 1874.

Pieris Napi.— Early in May I took a pretty specimen of
P. Napi, with under hind wings of a clear yellow, and having
a pale orange costa.—Id. ;

Is Saturnia Carpini Double-brooded ?—I see Mr. Oldfield
(Entom. vii. 189) enquires as to the double-broodedness of
Saturnia Carpini. Like Mr. Oldfield, from eggs deposited in
April by this species, I have now young larve feeding
on whitethorn, and now just changing their skin for the first
time. The “verticillate” arrangement of the hairs is well
seen in these young larve, which at this age closely resemble
those of the various Eastern and North American species of
Saturnia, Attacus, &c., in the same stage. As bearing on the
possible double-broodedness of Carpini, I may state that
from larve of Saturnia Pernyi, a Chinese species, hatched in
May and spun up the beginning of August, I have had moths
emerge both in September and also in the summer of the
next year—W. A. Forbes; 35, South Castle Street, Edin-
burgh, June 4, 1874.

[{ have omitted Mr. Forbes’ reference to Humphreys, con-
fessedly obtained from Haworth, and Haworth confessedly
from Fabricius, and his probably from some earlier authority.
I imagine Mr. Oldfield’s object, and certainly mine, was to
get out of this copying groove, and to ascertain what was the
result of recent observation,—the observation of living ento-
mologists. J admit this would involve a complete revolution
in Entomology, and [ think the sooner it comes the better.—
Edward Newman.|

Acronycta Alni at Doncaster.—In 1872 I had the pleasure
to communicate to you the capture of a specimen of

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 163

V. Polychloros, an insect which had not been taken here for
fifteen years previously. In 1873 I sent you the intelligence
of taking a V. Antiopa by myself, and six more by others, not
taken for twenty years previously. This year I have the
pleasing intelligence to transmit to your subscribers of the
capture here of two beautiful specimens of the alder-moth
(Acronycta Alni), both in first-class condition. This rare fly
has not been seen in Doncaster for nearly thirty years. I was
out collecting the larve of W-Album, in company with
J. Jackson, Wm. Cook, and Mr. Talbot of Wakefield, on the
30th of June, when one of the Alni was taken by Jackson, at
rest, on the bole of a tree; the other was brushed out of the
elm by Cook. This still shows the wonderful occurrence,
that I should like some more experienced naturalist to
clear up, how it is that insects reappear after an absence of
a quarter of a century, and even longer periods.—J. Potts ;
19, Senior Terrace, Doncaster, June 4, 1874.

Acronycta Alni in Yorkshire —On the 31st of May I had
the pleasure of taking a beautiful specimen of Acronycta
Alni at rest.——John Harrison ; 7, Victoria Bridge, Barnsley,
June 17, 1874.

Acronycta Alni in Yorkshire-—I captured a very fine
specimen of Acronycta Alni in Deffer Wood, near Norton-
thorpe, June 8th, about 8.30 P.M.: it was resting on the
trunk of an oak-tree, about four feet from the ground.—F,
Dearnley; Nortonthorpe Post-office, near Huddersfield,
June 23, 1874.

Acronycta Alni near Doncaster.—On Tuesday, June 2nd,
I took a fine male specimen: of Acronycta Alni, at rest, in
Edlenton Wood, Doncaster; and the woodman, Mr. Atkin-
son, took a female for me on the 4th of June, at rest.—W.
Cooke ; 10, Alma Place, Doncaster, June 22, 1874.

Acronycta Alni and Asthena Blomeraria at Malvern.—l
have great pleasure in recording the capture of two fine
specimens of Acronycta Alni at sugar: the first, on the 28th
of May,a female; the second, on the 9th of June,a male. In
1868 I took one specimen in the same wood, on the night of
July 4th, and saw two others. I have also taken fine speci-
mens of Asthena Blomeraria, by beating, this season, it being
a scarce insect in this locality—W. Edwards; 1, Abbey
Terrace, Great Malvern, June 20, 1874.

164 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Anticlea Sinuata near Dorking.—I captured a fine speci-
men of Anticlea Sinuata on the 19th of this month, near
Ranmore Common, Dorking, flying by day.—W. Thomas ;
St. Catharine’s, Guildford, June 22, 1874.

Buff Variety of Betularia, Bred.—I have taken a new
buff and white variety of Betularia at Middleton. We have
now had about five or six years breeding the black ones and
mingled ones; I can say we have had thousands of them, in
various stages, since first they tarned up to the Middleton
entomologists. I took the first black one and mingled one
in cop., and bred from them about seventy, all the black
variety; and I believe’ these have been more common
than the mingled ones since they turned up. Most of the
members of the Middleton Entomological Society have cap-
tured either one or more, or had them brought to them by
some friend; we have bred them over and over again, and
they have turned out to be the common mingled ones, the
dark mingled variety, and the black variety. We have been
expecting a white one with either one or other of us, and now
we have come pretty near with a buff and white mingled one,
with not a black speck on it; anda black male with it. I
have got about a hundred eggs from the female, which I
intend trying to rear, and see what will come out of them.
We have fed the larvee chiefly on whitethorn; and if any
entomologist is aware of a better food, I should be glad to
hear what it is—Z'. Lomas; Rochdale Road, Middleton,
near Manchester, June 22, 1874.

Ophiodes Lunaris near Brighton—While sugaring in
company with Mr. Hards, near Brighton, on Saturday night,
the 20th, I had the good fortune to take a very good speci-
men of Ophiodes Lunaris. I have shown it to Messrs,
McArthur and Pratt on the setting-board, who both recognize
it, although they have never seen one before. It is more

strongly marked than the typesin Newman’s ‘ British Moths.’

—F. Trangmar ; 20, Tidy Street, Brighton, June 23, 1874.

Eupithecia Consignata.—On the 29th of April last 1 had
the good fortune to capture on the wing a specimen of this
rare Eupithecia in very beautiful condition, having appa-
rently but recently emerged from the pupa. It was taken on
Appledown, a portion of the famous Tichborne estate, about
two miles distant from Alresford. Has it been discovered

——

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 165

before in Hampshire, or am | now adding a new locality for
it ?—J. Anderson, jun.

Dianthecia Albimacula.—Two specimens, a male and a
female, of this lovely species, were caught near Folkestone,
on the 11th ult., by Mr. Purday, of that town. They are now
in my possession, and are not yet dry. No others have been
taken up to this date.—LH. G. Meek; 56, Brompton Road,
S.W., June 15, 1874.

Geometer Larve Ealing Oak-galls.—A day or two ago I
happened to find some galls (of which I enclose two specimens),
of what I presume is Cynips lignicola (s. Kollarz), in a young
state of development, on some oaks near here. On arriving
at home I deposited some of these temporarily in a glass jar
containing a few Geometrine larve, of what species I cannot
say. On looking again at them in the evening I was surprised
to find these larve busy eating into the soft, succulent mass
of the young gall, and apparently enjoying this strange
repast. Whether this habit has been observed before I cannot
say, but I have brought it before the notice of readers of the
‘Entomologist’ in the hope of acquiring further information
on the subject.—W. A. Forbes; 35, South Castle Street,
Edinburgh, June 4, 1874.

Congeries of Diptera.—Reading an article in the ‘ Ento-
mologist’ (Entom. vii. 14), on “ Insect Congeries,” reminded
me of a remarkable instance which came under my observation
at Whitmore Park about thirty years ago. In a newly-built
wing of this house, in one room, I discovered an infinite
number of small flies, of which I preserved some specimens,
hoping to obtain a name. So numerous were they, that after
fumigating the room with tobacco, which quickly brought
down the insects from walls and ceiling, they lay so thickly
on the floor that they were removed by shovelfulls at a
time. I did not perceive them in any other room in the
house, and to my knowledge have never seen the insect since.
The specimens, I believe, are damaged by mites; but if you
could name it, from those I enclose, I should be much
obliged.—F., J. Phillips; Whitmore Park, Coventry, June
8, 1874.

[The little flies are Chlorops lineata. This habit of
assembling in vast numbers has often been recorded;
indeed, Mr. Walker has mentioned it in his ‘ Diptera

166 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Britannica,’ vol. ii. p. 228. The larve which produce this
pretty insect are very injurious to corn, more particularly
rye. The fly lays its egg on the young stems of the rye,
and when it is hatched the larva gnaws its way into the
_ interior, just below the first division or septum, which
operation has the effect of immediately stopping the growth
of the rye; so that the stem, instead of rising to a height of
several feet, is dwarfed for ever at three or four inches,
presenting a very singular appearance. Wheat and barley
are subject also to this pest, or very similar ones of the
genera Oscinis and Chlorops.—Edward Newman. |

A Railway Train Impeded by Locusts—In Messrs. Kirby
and Spence’s ‘ Introduction to Entomology,’ many remarkable
records of the direct injuries of insects are to be found;
many equally astonishing have come to my knowledge since
the publication of the Introduction. The late Sir John
Hearsey used to relate, with great gusto and humour, the
dispersal of a troop of cavalry, when on march, under his
command in India. Sir John had entrusted to the care of a
mounted subaltern a swarm of honey-bees in a box-hive,
when removing to a distant military station: the bee was
an Indian species, Apis dorsata, the largest known, and
also the most pugnacious. The man had the misfortune
to drop the hive, which split open: out swarmed the infuriated
host, which immediately vented their rage on the troopers,
who quickly broke rank and galloped off in all directions,
pursued by the maddened honey-bees, who stung man and
horse indiscriminately. I write, however, on this occasion,
to draw attention to a telegram that lately appeared in several
of the London papers, dated—“ Algiers, May 20th, 1874. A
train arrived here to-day from Oran, six hours behind time:
the rails were covered with a thick layer of grasshoppers.”
We cannot, I think, be at a loss to understand this, and fully
comprehend the nature of the obstruction to the train: the
wheels of the carriages, crushing a thick layer of locusts,
would be much the same as if passing through a layer of fatty
matter, which would consequently completely prevent the
bite of the metals. This appears to me a circumstance
worthy of being recorded in an entomological journal.—
Frederick Smith ; 27, Richmond Crescent, Islington.

A Note on Aphides.—At the beginning of the last week of

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 167

May there was not an Aphis to be seen on a mostly-shaded
row of elder-shoots by a pond. At the end of this week there
were many hundreds of thousands, and the usual attendants
on clusters of Aphides were not wanting—such as the
Aphidius watching them close by, the Aphelinus skipping on
them, the ant running over them, the ladybird nibbling them,
and various Muscide feeding on their honey. Few kinds of
Aphis multiply so quickly as the elder Aphis, which is a
remarkable instance of the shortness of time in which life is
divided and individualised as organisms by means of the
abundance of elder sap. The lime Aphis is one of the
slowest in increasing: it was full grown in April this year,
but was not more numerous on the same leaves at the end of
amonth. At the end of May little specks of honey may be
seen on both sides of a lime-leaf, the surface of the leaf being
often reversed by a slight wind. These specks are almost
always few and irregular, notwithstanding the abundance of
upper leaves, and quite resemble the specks, which are much
more numerous, on the sycamore. A sycamore-leaf may be
seen with one half quite covered with honey, of which
substance there is no trace on the other half, the first half
being just under a colony of Aphides on a leaf above; and at
the end of May I saw just the same appearance on a lime-leaf,
half of which was under another leaf, on whose under side
there was an unusually great number of the lime Aphis. \
I have observed nearly all the species of Aphides that have
been recorded as British, and in all cases they emit honey,
and in every instance there has been no honey without them.
—Francis Walker.

[The reader is referred to a paper on this subject, reprinted
(Entom. vi. 468) from the ‘Gardener’s Chronicle.’ Mr.
Walker’s note appears to have reference to this note, but he
does not mention it.—EHdward Newman.]

Is Heat the Chief Agent in Insect Development ?2—We
naturally answer in the affirmative, and indeed reasonably
so, since much or little experience all points to the same
conclusion. A warm spring induces early developments, and
a hot summer causes a second brood of species, which in
ordinary seasons make but one appearance; to these trite
assertions every reader of the ‘ Entomologist’ can bear greater
or less testimony. And although we sometimes read of the

168 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

successful—but often unsuccessful—plan of “ forcing,” thus
causing a premature development, simply by a heightened
temperature, yet the principle of warmth, in some few isolated
cases, is open to argument. A short time since a correspondent
told me of his taking a specimen of Macaria Alternata in the
New Forest in May, together with several other species, which
in ordinary seasons seldom occur till June, and this notwith-
standing the winter-like weather we were experiencing at the
time. Doubtless, the heat and almost summer-like atmosphere
of a part of April would explain all this, and much more, if
we only knew how to read “ Dame Nature’s” volume more
correctly ; but it seemed to mea strange coincidence, to be
beating an Aureola from an oak whose shoots were crisp and
black from the effects of frost. It may be argued that the
early budding of the tree, as well as the development of the
insects, are to be traced to the same cause, namely, heat;
and the argument is undoubtedly correct, but the theory of
heat is not so amply demonstrated in some cases: take, for
instance, the development of the early spring Lepidoptera, as
the Tzeniocampa, Hirtaria, &c.; if the weather is cold and
unfavourable at the time they naturally “ come out,” some of
them are retarded in their development, and no heat of the
subsequent summer awakens them, but they lie over until
their “ appointed time” the following spring, which seems an
extraordinary thing, if heat alone causes development. The
abundance of insects in summer, and their comparative rarity
in winter, is an ample proof of the great part which heat
plays in their development; but it is interesting in some
cases to see how Nature, in her wonderful order and design,
seems—to our finite understandings—to deviate from her
unalterable laws, all for the benefit and well-being of her
children.—G. B. Corbin.

Larve Required for Figuring.—As I am anxious to obtain
correct drawings of the larve of Lepidoptera, from Nature,
for publication, perhaps some of your readers possessing any
rare species might be inclined to send me one or two for this
purpose. If required, any larve shall be returned.—Owen
Wilson ; Carmarthen.

Change of Address.—T. N. Hoey, from 45, Athearn Road,
Peckham, to 1, Cload Road, Philips Road, Peckham
Rye, 8.E.

yd _

Ne ee

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

No. 132.] AUGUST, MDCCCLXXIV. [Price 6d.

VaRIETy OF ArcTIA LUBRICIPEDA (FEMALE).

Variety of Arctia Lubricipeda.—The antennz are simple ;
the ground colour of all the wings is cream-colour; the fore
wings are marked with black, the base, fringe, wing-rays and
four blotches excepted; the markings of the hind wings are
not so dark as those of the fore wings, and in them the base,
wing-rays and fringe alone are cream-coloured; the head and
thorax are the same colour as the ground of the wings, and
the body is yellow, with six black spots down the middle and
on each side.—G. R. Dawson; June 18, 1874.

[Mr. Dawson has most obligingly lent the specimen for
the purpose of figuring in the ‘Entomologist. The late
Mr. John Curtis published a beautiful figure of a very similar
variety, under the name of Arctia radiata. A similar variety
of Arctia Menthastri occasionally, but very rarely, occurs.—
Edward Newman.)

VOL. VII. Z

170 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s
‘ Die Mitteleuropiaischen Hichengallen’ by Mrs. HuBERT
HERKOMER née WEISE.

Fig. 12.

b d
CYNIPS CONIFICA.
a. Seen from above. c. Sideways.
b. From below. d. In section.

12. Cynips conifica.—This rare gall is found on the branches
(several years old) of Quercus pedunculata and Q. pubescens.
It is more or less regularly conical, and ig much rounded off
at the top, and measures ten or twelve millemetres in height
and in thickness at the base. The latter has usually some
short, stout processes, which are firmly attached to the
branch. Its colour is brown, the surface being covered with
short, white stellate hairs, intermixed with longitudinal
furrows. These latter are somewhat raised, and by them
the gall is more or less reticulated. The interior of the gall,
when dried, appears to consist of a light brown, spongy
reticulation, which closely surrounds the large, whitish
yellow woody inner gall, which is situated at the base of the
outer one. Hitherto I have received but a single specimen
of the perfect insect. It emerged in March.—G. ZL. Mayr.

13. Aphilothria serotina.—Of this delicate gall, which in
outward appearance bears a resemblance to that of A. lucida,
I have only seen two specimens, which were given to me by

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 17]

Dr. Giraud. It is found either on the
branches that are covered with earth or
moss, or on the lowest part of the trunk of
Quercus sessiliflora or of Q. pubescens.
Like the two preceding galls it consists of
an egg-shaped inner gall, which, with a
covering as thin as paper, surrounds the
large larva-cell, and is half a centimetre in
length. The exterior surface, when dry, is
covered with a thin, shining yellowish brown
layer of bark. Out of this layer emanate ,
a great number of radiating outstretched
threads, half a centimetre in length, and
covered with scattered hairs, about one
millemetre in length. Dr. Giraud found
this gall late in the autumn; and the
perfect insect emerged in the September
of the following year.—G. L. Mayr.

A, SEROTINA.

a, Two of the threads
magnified,

Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.

Argynnis Niobe in Kent.—I beg to submit to your inspec-
tion a male specimen of a fritillary, caught in company with
Aglaia on a very hilly inaccessible spot near here. Would
you kindly let me know your opinion of it? Ihave sent a
male and female, also, to Mr. Doubleday. They seem to me
to be out before Aglaia, as Aglaia, specimens of which I have
a hundred or more caught to-day, are bright and fresh. Are
these varieties, or another species? Shall be happy to
furnish the locality—W. Wigan ; 8, Wincheap, Canterbury.

[Mr. Doubleday allows me to publish the following
information :—“TI yesterday received from a Mr. Wigan a
pair of Argynnis Niobe, which he says he caught on some
hills near Wye, in Kent, flying with Aglaia, of which he took
more than a hundred specimens. He states that he took
three male Niobe on Monday, two of them being much
wasted, and a female on Tuesday; this he sent to me,
together with the best male; this was dead, but not stiff, and
the female was still alive: they are not much more than half
the size of my continental specimens, being very little larger

:

172 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

than Lathonia; the male is rather worn, but the female is a
lovely specimen, with the black spots very large. I have no
doubt whatever that these two specimens were captured in
Kent; they could not have been obtained from the Continent
alive in such dry weather as we have had lately.” Ina
second letter Mr. Doubleday writes thus :—“ The butterflies
~ are most certainly Niobe, and quite distinct from Adippe and
Aglaia. The moment I opened the box I saw what they
were, without looking at the under sides.— Henry Doubleday ;
Epping, July 10, 1874.” I have also examined the speci-
mens so kindly sent to me by Mr. Wigan, and can see no
reason whatever to doubt that this is a bond fide capture. I~
would ask Mr. Wigan’s permission to have a pair drawn and
engraved for the ‘Entomologist.’ I have written to Mr.
Wigan soliciting farther information, and have also requested
the loan of a pair to figure in the ‘Entomologist;’ that
gentleman has replied very explicitly to my enquiries, and
has kindly given me permission to figure the insects.—
Edward Newman.)

Argynnis Niobe (second letter from Mr. Wigan).—Agree-
ably to your request I beg to inform you that the living
specimens of Niobe, forwarded to yourself and Mr. Double-
day, were taken in a hilly district between Wye and
Ashford, in Kent. 1 generally have a day every year about
the end of June, and take as many Aglaia as I require.
Going there a fortnight earlier last year, and paying a visit
to my sugaring-grounds, where I take Leucopheza (which I
do the end of May), I saw several of what I took to be worn- >
out specimens of Aglaia. Knowing that they are not done
for till the end of July, or later, I, hap-hazard, took a speci-
men, and pinned it up; I never set it, but luckily kept it.
Going to a pic-nic party a month later, near the same spot
(Godmersham), there was Aglaia, in all the panoply of his
silver armour, glittering in the sunlight, and apparently but
just out. Feeling convinced that a few miles could not
affect the time of their appearance by nearly a month, I
carefully examined the specimen previously taken, on my
return home. I think it was the longest day I ever
experienced; and had it not been for discourtesy to the
ladies, I must have returned by the next train. There it
was, and is, and just sufficient to swear by, as being a large

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 173

fritillary of some kind. I told the circumstance to Parry, of
this town, who showed me two fair specimens that he had
taken at the same spot (I may add, there is no collusion
between us, only we both possess the knowledge of this
locality), and he told me he thought they were Niobe, or a
new fritillary. They were thought, however, to be but a
variety of Adippe. ‘This year I was again too late to see the
first of the males: my impression is they are out the end of
May, and the females a month later, or less, perhaps. The
female sent to Mr. Doubleday had just emerged when I took
it, whilst the males I have are much worn, and Aglaia males
bright and fresh, and no female Aglaia. The locality is a
huge rent, caused at some remote time by a convulsion of
Nature, with almost perpendicular sides, and covered with
long grass, amidst which peep out the flowers of the wild
heart’s-ease, which grow here in great profusion. Upon these
steepy slopes, where an alpen-stock would not be despised
by any but an entomologist, fly Aglaia, but not Niobe. At
the bottom of this trough, which is no more than a few yards
wide, grows a kind of rush, and there, within a confined area,
is to be found Niobe,—and very few, alas, indeed. Their
flight is unmistakably different from Aglaia: they hover with
an Athalia-like movement amongst the rushes, and fly with
even greater rapidity than Aglaia; but, as a thistle-head will
lure back a Paphia, so some herbage attraction (or otherwise)
amongst the rushes brings them back to the same spot, and
so they are captured. The female [ took did not offer to fly ;
and my man, who collects for me and has taken another, tells
me the same thing. In conclusion, let me add that the
entomologist, when taking his yearly outing, would do well
to work the neighbourhood of Wye and Ashford; and if be
does not succeed in finding the haunt of Niobe, he will not
for want of sport leave it “all tears;” and I can answer (with
favourable weather) that he will take insects commonly here
that occur elsewhere as rarities —W. Wigan; Canterbury.
Argynnis Niobe a British Insect.—Yesterday morning,
just before I was leaving town, | received from Mr. G. Parry,
of Canterbury, a living specimen of this butterfly taken the
day before, and a request that I should come down on the
following Friday, when he would take me to the place of its
capture, that I might see and take it myself, and thus confirm

174 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

the nativity of the species. It was most unfortunate that I had
made arrangements to visit friends in the Midland Counties,
and was due at Dr. Baly’s, at Warwick, at 4 p.m. I had just
time to show the species alive to Mr. Cooke, and, on my
arrival here, to Dr. Baly, who saw it quite fresh, it having
just died. The specimen has evidently been taken on the
wing, and is in fair order, but very different in condition to a
bred specimen. Mr. P. informs me it flies in company with
Aglaia on the slopes of one of the highest hills in Kent, and
cannot be distinguished from that species till captured.—
Samuel Stevens; Warwick, July 10, 1874.

[Although Argynnis Niobe has been previously recorded
as a British insect, by the Rev. W. Hambrough, at p. 351 of
the sixth volume of the ‘ Entomologist,’ on the authority of a
specimen taken in the New Forest, by Mr. Gerrard, in 1868,
and again at p. 30 of my ‘Illustrated Natural History of
British Butterflies, these additional captures are particularly
interesting.— Edward Newman.]

Vanessa Polychloros at Westbury-on-Trym.—I write to
inform you that I captured here, on the 8lst of May, a
specimen of Vanessa Polychloros (the great tortoiseshell) : it
was rubbed and slightly chipped.—Ldward R. Pease; Cote
Bank, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, June 11, 1874.

Limenitis Sibylla at Hendon.—I have just taken a speci-
men of Limenitis Sibylla (in fair condition): it was flying
along a hedge by the road-side, about half a mile from this
place.—R. South ; Goldbeater’s Farm, Mill Hill, Hendon,
July 14, 1874.

Thecla W-Album on the Flowers of the Lime Tree.—My
pupils and myself took about thirty specimens yesterday of
Thecla W-Album on the flowers of the lime tree. I cannot
say why they should seck this tree particularly, as there are
only two in my grounds, and I do not know of any others
near. They settled on the flowers, and were at first very
easily caught.—[Rev.] John W. Mills; St. Lawrence Ree-
tory, Maldon, Essex, July 15, 1874.

Thecla Pruni in Buckinghamshire-—On the 4th July,
being at Linford Wood, taking Trycheris mediana for a
correspondent, [ captured several specimens of Thecla
Pruni, on flowers of the privet, mostly females; and as there
is no record of it being taken in Bucks, perhaps you may

THE ENTOMOLOGIST 175

think it worth notice in the ‘ Entomologist.— W. Thompson:
183, Stantonbury, Stoney Stratford, Bucks, July 13, 1874,

Leucophasia Sinapis Ovipositing.—On the 13th of June I
was in the woods at Grange, North Lancashire, when I
observed several wood-whites flitting about and settling on
various plants close to me. It then occurred to me | had
seen an article in one of our magazines that wood-whites had
never been observed to settle, always being seen on the wing,
I have seen scores in my time at rest. I stooped down to
look whether they were males or females on the Ox-eye
daisy-flowers: one I watched more carefully than the others,
as I could see it was very anxious to find a plant to lay eggs
upon; I stood still and watched it within three feet of me,
and it was careful among the rough herbage to single out the
trefoil to deposit its eggs upon; I noted some of the sprigs,
so that I could gather them to look for the eggs, and there
was only one egg deposited on each sprig; the shape of the
egg is very peculiar, just the Shape of a conical shot. I also
found young larve, about three-eighths of an inch long, on
the same plant. It seems as if Loti ought to be the name,
instead of Sinapis.—J. B. Hodgkinson ; 15, Spring Bank,
Preston.

Is Acidalia rubricata a Single-[brooded] Species 2—I have
twice endeavoured to rear this insect from the egg. The first
time the only caterpillar that survived the winter died at the
commencement of June. This year two caterpillars survived
the winter, and one moth has appeared this morning. Now,
caterpillars of the August brood ought, by right, to have
produced the May brood. I have not yet succeeded in
obtaining eggs from the May brood.—[ Rev.] A. H. Wratis-
law ; School Hail, Bury St. Edmunds, July 2, 1874.

Description of the Larva of Eupisteria heparata.—On the
2nd of July last I received a few larve of this species from
Mr. A. H. Jones, of Eltham, and on the 5th described them
as follows :—Slender, length about five-eighths of an inch;
head the same width as the 2nd segment, globular, and
slightly notched on the crown; body cylindrical, and of
nearly uniform width throughout; each segment is plump in
the middle, which makes the divisions distinct; skin clothed
with a few short scattered hairs. Ground colour bright green ;
head glaucous-green, with a large black ocellus on the upper

176 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

part of each lobe; the mandibles brown. A broad, velvety
black band extends throughout the dorsal area, and is inter-
sected by the pale, greenish yellow indistinct dorsal line ; it
is also edged on each side with a clear yellow stripe, which is
again divided into black squares by clear yellow segmental
divisions; these black squares vary in intensity in different
specimens, in some only occupying the anterior of the
segment, the other half being of the ground colour; all have
a mark of the ground colour, varying in size, on the posterior
part of the segments. The sides are minutely dotted with
eray, and there is a very indistinct yellowish line along the
spiracular region. Ventral surface, legs and claspers green ;
of a darker shade than the ground of the dorsal surface.
When young the black dorsal band, so conspicuous in the
adult larva, is absent. Feeds on alder; and shortly before
spinning up the colour entirely changes, becoming dark
green with purple tinge, and the segmental divisions purple.
My larve spun loose cocoons amongst the leaves, &c.; but
in a state of nature they probably form them amongst
moss, &c., on the trunks and about the roots of alder.—Geo.
T. Porritt ; Huddersfield, June 26, 1874.

Description of Varieties of the Larva of Notodonta Car-
melita.-—Var. 1.—Ground colour white, with a greenish
tinge on the back, becoming more perceptible towards the
anterior segments. Down the centre of the back is a blue
line, extending to the last segment, distinct on the middle of
the segments, and becoming fainter, or sometimes entirely
disappearing in the inter-segmental divisions. On each side
of this line there are scattered a very few, exceedingly small
white tubercles, each bearing a hair. On each side of the
central line is another of a much lighter blue, and beneath
this the ground colour changes to bluish green, or sometimes
yellowish green. The spiracles are situated a little below this
line, and their colour is black, and each is surrounded by a
whitish line, and again a red line around this, the red being
more marked round the spiracles situated on the posterior
segments. Between the spiracles is a yellow line, which is
continued uninterruptedly over the non-spiracular segments.
Beneath the spiracles the tubercles are more numerous, and
in those segments bearing neither legs nor claspers a belt of
tubercles is continued under the belly. The legs and claspers

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 177

are red, with a black semilunar mark at the junction of the
claspers with the body. On the top of the 12th segment
there are two warts, one on each side of the blue line before
mentioned, which, as it passes between them, is marked by a
dilatation. These warts are red at the upper part, and emit
hairs. The head is either bluish green or light yellowish
green. The ocelli black. A short black line extends hori-
zontally on each side of the mandibles, which are red,
bounded with black. The head emits hairs. Var. 2.—
Ground colour light greenish yellow, becoming more de-
cidedly green underneath. Otherwise similar. Var. 3.—
Head a light pinkish brown, emitting not nearly so many
hairs as ordinarily. Body, above the spiracles, creamy
white between the segments, and with a saddle of pink across
the middle of each segment. Warts, legs, and claspers, not
so red as in the ordinary varieties. Line down the back and
the lines on each side, instead of blue, are pink. Spiracles
and inter-spiracular line the same as usual. Beneath the
spiracles the colour is very light yellowish brown, darker
between the claspers. Var. 1 is the common condition of the
larva, and var. 2 is also very generally found; but var. 8 is,
I believe, rather scarce. 1 have only seen it once, when I
beat it, then quite small, from oak, 5th September, 1873. I
have bred all the moths this year, and there is no perceptible
difference between them.—L. B. Poulton; Victoria Villa,
Reading, July 8, 1874.

Dianthecia Albimacula and Acronycta Leporina.—I had
the pleasure of taking a very good specimen of Dianthecia
albimacula, on Tuesday, June 23rd, as it was flying over a
small bed of Silene nutans, on the Lower Road, Folkestone.
Two collectors were present, and one of them—himself the
captor of two specimens of this insect, at Folkestone—pointed
out the value of my capture. I also caught a fine specimen
of Leporina at sugar, in a wood about three miles from
penal about a week after the capture of Albimacula.—

d.

Larve of Dianthecia Albimacula.—I have taken during
the last week several larvee of the above species, feeding on
Silene nutans; this plant is not so local as it is supposed to
be: | have found it in many parts of Kent; also in the Isle
of Wight.— EZ. G. Meek; 56, Brompton Road, S.W.

Qa

178 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Botys Terrealis Bred.—Last September I found half a
dozen larve of Terrealis on one plant of golden rod: their
presence is easily detected, as often all is eaten away but the
stalk; they form a light silken web, as a covering from
exposure. I have been lucky enough to rear four specimens,
quite unexpectedly, as the year before I got two dozen larve
and did not rear one, although I nursed them well, and
attended to all the sanitary arrangements I could think
of: they often live through the winter. Those that I have
bred were evidently of the “fittest-to-live” class, because
they were put into a box, either to live or die, and not cared
for in any way; indeed, they were forgotten. I will try to
forget more for next year.—J. B. Hodgkinson ; 15, Spring
Bank, Preston, July 3, 1874.

Acronycta Alni near Sheffield.—I had the pleasure of
taking a fine male Acronycta Alni, at rest on the trunk of a
tree, when out for a walk, in the neighbourhood of Sheffield,
on the 14th of June—W*m. Sheldon ; Upper Saint Philip’s
Road, Sheffield.

Halonota grandevana at Hartlepool.—I have this year
taken several specimens of Halonota grandzevana on the
ballast hill here, thus confirming Hartlepool as a locality for
this species.—J. Gardner; 8, Friar Terrace, Hartlepool,
July 18, 1874.

Crymodes exulis again taken.—I sugared for sixteen
nights lately in the locality where I had before taken this
species, but only took one specimen. It came to the sugar
near midnight on the 7th July.—Nicholas Cooke; Gorsey
Hey, Liscard, near Birkenhead, July 20, 1874.

Chesias obliquaria and Anarta Myrtilli.—In the middle
of August, last year, [ had six pupz of C. obliquaria, which
I placed in my breeding-cage. Although this is a May
insect I bred one as early as April lst, and two others made
their appearance between that time and May 7th, but at what
precise dates I cannot say, as I was away from home.
I thought 1 had done with the insect, but to my surprise
to-day (June 18th) another specimen appeared. June and
July are the months for A. Myrtilli. Agreeably to this I took
the insect at Tillgate, July 18th, 1872. On the 17th of
July, last year, the day was very dull, on which we went to
the same place, and there was very little to be found.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 179

I believe, however, that my friend took a specimen of
Myrtilli; but at any rate we took three nearly full-grown
larvee of that species, for which I find September and
October are the reputed months; and from these a moth
emerged in my breeding-cage on June 8th.—[Rev.] E. H.
Egles; Enfield, June 18, 1874.

Platypterix Sicula near Bristol.—I have to record the
capture by myself, in Leigh Woods, on the 6th and 10th of
last month, of three examples of this rare hooktip,—a male
and two females; and on the 17th a male, by Mr. A. E.
Hudd; this latter apparently just emerged. Another fine
male was taken on the 27th by a visitor to Clifton. 1 believe
the last recorded capture of Sicula was in 1859, when seven-
teen specimens were taken. Altogether, to the present time,
some twenty-five would be in existence in different collections.
Perhaps it would not be out of place were I to mention a
little adventure, in connection with my above-mentioned
capture, which befel me in one of my excursions to these
celebrated woods, and which at one time assumed rather a
serious aspect. Iwas forcing my way through some dense
undergrowth, when I had the misfortune to walk into one of
the many excavations that occur in these woods, and of
which I had no previous knowledge. It seems now perfectly
marvellous how I could have fallen such a depth (upwards of
thirty feet) without sustaining some injury beyond a few
trifling scratches, and of course a good shaking; but such
was fortunately the case ; and the fact of having fallen on my
feet, and the bottom of the hole being composed of soft
mire, would partly account for my escaping with so little
bodily hurt. Had I broken or sprained a limb, in all proba-
bility I could not have made any subsequent attempt to
extricate myself, and the chance of being heard would have
been slight indeed, as I was in a part of the wood seldom
visited by the keepers. For nearly two hours was I in this
predicament, but at last managed to scramble out with the
assistance of a half-rotten pole, which providentially had been
thrown into the hole (as I afterwards heard) by a keeper,
Some seven years previously. My feelings of thankfulness
can well be imagined, for without this aid I certainly could
not have got out, unless help had reached me from another
quarter. This hole was some four feet in circumference at

180 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

the top, being hollowed out considerably in the centre, and
narrowing again at the bottom. I have frequently visited the
spot since the occurrence, but cannot look into the hole
without a shudder, and with feelings of thankfulness for such
a providential escape. My visit in search of Sicula had
well-nigh cost me my life—William H. Grigg; Bristol,
July 22, 1874.

Apamea Unanimis making up in Decayed Willow-wood.
—Will you oblige me by naming the enclosed insects? I
found the pupe while seeking Coleoptera in some willows, in
April. I enclose a pupa-case that one of them came out of.
I have your ‘ British Moths,’ but I can find nothing in it that
corresponds with them.—H. Sims; Howard Street, Wake-
field, May 27, 1874.

[The moth is Apamea Unanimis.—EHdward Newman. ]

Nola albulalis, §c., in North Kent.—On Monday morning
last, the 13th July, I left home for five days’ collecting, in
company with the Rev. T. W. Daltry, of Madeley, in North
Kent. A day or two before, Mr. Daltry, who had been there
the week previous, had written me he had found out the
locality for Nola albulalis, and to collect this species was my
principal inducement for going. Monday evening we went to
the marshes, and found Acidalia emutaria not uncommon;
the following morning A. rusticata was collected in great
abundance from two elm hedges; the afternoon and evening
we spent in the Albulalis locality, and took the species very
freely; Wednesday and Thursday evenings we had equal
success, the species flying in abundance: indeed, at one
time, standing in one spot, I took them as they Hew past as
fast as I could box them. Friday evening we went again, but
were astonished to find that not a single specimen was to be
seen: we could only account for it by the fact that the
atmosphere had become colder, and the ground damp; do
what we would neither of us could find one. Here we met
Mr. Packman, of Dartford, to whose kindness we are indebted
for valuable information about several species. Albulalis is
easily distinguished from the grass, low underwood, &c., in
the daytime, and for a short time, just at dusk, flies very
freely : it flies slowly, and not far from the ground, its pale
colour rendering it so conspicuous that, although so small,
the marvel to me is that it is has remained a rarity for so long.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 181

Apatura Iris was not uncommon about the oaks in one place,
and Pterophorus rhododactylus occurred about rose. Amongst
the other species noticed or taken were—Vanessa Polychloros,
Arge Galathea (very abundant), Lycena Corydon, Zeuzera
fésculi, Nola cuculatella, Lithosia mesomella, Angerona
prunaria, Pseudopterpna cytisaria, lodis vernaria, Hemithea
thymiaria, Acidalia interjectaria, A. incanaria, A. immutata,
A. emarginata, Timandra amataria, Strenia clathrata, Sco-
tosia vetulata, Cidaria picata, Erastria fuscula, Rivula
sericealis (abundant), Botys hyalinalis and fuscalis, Ebulea
crocealis (abundant about fleabane), Scoparia cembralis,
Crambus pinetellus, C. perlellus, C. Warringtonellus, llythyia
carnella, Homceosoma eluviella, Rhodophza consociella
and tumidella, &c.—Geo. T. Porritt; Huddersfield, July
20, 1874.

Hairy Larve on the Black Currant.—During the past
fortnight I have found several small batches of eggs laid on
the under side of leaves of black-currant trees in my garden.
Some of these have hatched, and the young larve are very
hairy, and look like Menthastri. I should like your opinion
as to whether they can be that common species, as I thought
it only fed on low plants.—H. Wittich ; 6, Lansdown Cot-
tages, Dalston, June 22, 1874.

[Without seeing them I cannot venture an opinion.—
Edward Newman. ]

Field Naturalists Society. Cnethocampa pityocampa and
Anthrocera Lonicere.—We have formed a Field Naturalists’
Society in York, to replace in some measure the Entomolo-
gical Society, which some few years ago we had in York.
Will the reports of our meetings be of any service to either
the ‘ Zoologist’ or ‘Entomologist?’ I have had some larve
of Pityocampa sent me by Mr. Batchelor. Can you tell me
anything about them, and whether I may exhibit them as
British? It seems strange to me that they have not been
found before. Did you make anything out about the
Lonicere | sent you last summer ?— Wm. Prest ; 13, Holgate
Road, York, March 23, 1874.

[1. If sent regularly I should be glad of reports of the
meetings of local societies, but 1 have never known them
continued beyond the second or third meeting. 2. | have
no knowledge of Cnethocampa beyond what I have published.

182 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

3. The specimens of Zygena so kindly sent do not agree
with Lonicere in any of the characters noticed by Mr.
Doubleday.—Edward Newman.| {

Names of Moths.—W ould you kindly oblige me by naming
these three little insects? One I take to be Erastria venus-
tula, discovered by Mr. Doubleday in Epping; the bright
pink faded very much after death. The other is, I think,
Erastria fuscula. Both are common here, especially the first.
I could have caught a hundred off the heath one evening
(Tuesday, June 2nd). The other little black longhorn I cannot
find a trace of in my books: they were flying over water in
the forest; I took six or seven one evening.—David M. G.
Price; West Street, Horsham, July 21, 1874.

[Only one wing, that of Erastria fuscula, could be recog-
nized. The rest of the insects were literally ground to
powder. Please pack more carefully another time. The
discovery of Erastria venustula at Horsham would be very
interesting.—Hdward Newman.]

The Dor-beeile (Entom. vii. 182).—With regard to my
notes, and the editorial remarks thereon, I fear I am unable
to offer any very satisfactory materials for judgment. First,
respecting the specific name of the beetle 1 am not sure, and
I foolishly did not secure any for identification, but on the
first opportunity, after reading Mr. Newman’s remarks, I
made a journey to the heaths, expecting to find some speci-
mens, at least, of the beetles [ had seen so commonly on my
previous visit. I was, however, doomed to a most grievous
disappointment, for not a specimen was visible upon the
grassy plot, where, but a comparatively short time ago,

hundreds were lying dead and disemboweled. 1 observed a .

number of what I suppose were mouse-holes about in the
grass, but whether they explain anything with regard to the
—to me—mysterious disappearance of the beetles I am not
prepared to say, neither can I assign any plausible reason for
the mortality which had previously taken place amongst the
Coleoptera. Many of the tunnels formed by the beetles
were still visible, and as far as a pocket-knife was available I
used it in digging into some of them, in the hope of finding
one of the beetles. By this examination I obtained one dead
specimen (which I send), but I am by no means certain it is
the same species I saw working, for, if 1 mistake not, its

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 183

thorax was quite rounded and smooth: memory, however, as
we all know, is very treacherous, and specific differences can
never reasonably be deduced therefrom. As far as I ob-
served, the beetles confined themselves to the collecting of
the pellets of rabbits’-dung, but this single observation
cannot, I think, establish the fact of their invariably doing
so. There seemed to be no other suitable material at hand
for the purpose, and possibly what I saw was but an adapta-
tion of a means to an end, since, as far as I could judge, the
locality, and nature of the soil, &c., were peculiarly suited to
the beetles’ requirements. The depth of the tunnels excavated
by these beetles were of comparatively considerable magni-
tude, as I could probe many of them with a pliant stem of the
common braken some ten or twelve inches, and, indeed, with
the aid of my knife 1 enlarged some of them to an equal or
even greater depth without finding traces of either beetles or
pellets.—G. B. Corbin.

[The beetle found by Mr. Corbin is Typhceus vulgaris.—
Edward Newman. |

The supposed Potato-bug.—Will you kindly inform me
what the enclosed creatures are? They were sent to me
yesterday from Wimborne, where I am told they are doing
some amount of damage to the potato crop, by destroying the
haulm. I suppose it is the grub of some beetle, and I believe
I have seen similar creatures not unfrequently before, yet I
am unable to name it. Of course, everything in any form
upon the potato cannot (in the eyes of the grower) be less
than the “ Colorado potato-bug.”—G. B. Corbin.

[The chrysalides of Coccinella 7-punctata. 1 am quite at
a loss to conceive what damage they can do, since in this
state they do not feed at all: in the larval and perfect state
their food is Aphides, or plant-lice—Edward Newman.]

G. Harvey.—The beetles are Coccinella septem-punctata:
they feed on Aphides. They have no connection with the
potato-bug.— Edward Newman.

W. Macmillan—tThe larva is that of Biston hirtaria.
The ichneumon, Macrogaster alvearius, so-called from the
resemblance of its mass of little cocoons to a honeycomb.—
Id.
Colonizing Glow-worms.—Can you tell me how we can
establish a colony of glow-worms at Woodford? There are

184 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

plenty of them here, and we could take them home if we
knew on what they feed. Do the females lay their eggs on
any plant, or in the ground; and what is that plant? They
appear very feeble if kept for a night in confinement, but
recover and shine when placed out on the dewy grass.—
A. F. F.; Sea View, Isle of Wight.

[I have often tried to establish a colony of glow-worms,
but have always failed: the light becomes more feeble, night
after night, until it dwindles to a spark and disappears. The
eggs are attached by means of a kind of liquid glue to a
variety of substances, as moss, grass, dead wood, or even
earth, apparently without any especial reference to the food of
the larva, except that they are generally found in places
where its food occurs, as damp ditches and shaded hedge-
banks: that food consists of the eggs and young individuals
of different species of land-snails; Zonites cellarius and
Z. alliarius are especial favourites. The larve attain their
full size in April, and then turn into quiescent pupz, but
still retain great muscular power, as evinced by their writhings
and twistings when teazed or otherwise annoyed: the pupa
can also move its head, antenna, and legs; the female pupa,
as in the perfect insect, exhibits no trace of wings or elytra;
the male pupa, on the contrary, has the usual representatives
of these organs. The universally received hypothesis that the
light of the female glow-worm—like a chignon, a pannier, or
a crinoline, among ourselves—is a lure to attract the male,
requires investigation and consideration. I cannot disprove
it; but the presence of this luminosity in the egg, larva and
pupa, and also abundantly in the males of some allied
species, seems to point to the desirability of some other
explanation.— Edward Newman.)

Bees Fertilizing Flowers.—1 shall be very grateful to any
reader who will procure and send me the bees which frequent
the bloom of the scarlet-runner or the red clover. It is well
known to those who have studied the subject that these
plants cannot fertilize themselves, but are dependent on
insects for the performance of that office. Our countrymen
resident in Central America, where the scarlet-runner would
be a most acceptable vegetable, cannot cultivate it to any
good purpose, because the natural fertilizer is not indi-
genous, and has not been introduced. In like manner the

4

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 185

red clover, so largely grown in New Zealand, is raised from
English and continental seed, and for the same reason. An
annual saving of many hundred thousand pounds might be
effected, if, together with the seed, we could export the
insect, whose office in the economy of Nature is to render
the respective plants productive. During the past and present
months I have captured three hundred and sixty-one bees,
noting in every instance the flowers they were fertilizing, with
a view to ascertain their utility as fertilizers in a commercial
point of view.—Edward Newman.

@nistis Quadra.—I took a fine specimen of (&nistis
Quadra, at lime blossom, in my garden, on the evening of the
10th July. The insect was a male, and appeared to have
been out only a few hours.—A. Harold Ruston; Aylesby
House, Chatteris, Cambridge, July 24, 1874.

Food-plant of Erastria fuscula——The food-plant of E.
fuscula, or how to obtain the larve, is no longer a mystery to
me. Having taken lodgings in the vicinity where the imago
was plentiful, [ made up my mind, if it was possible, to
obtain the larve: accordingly in the first week in September
last I set to work, and the first night searched the bramble
(the food-plant named by M. Guenée) for a long time; after-
wards tried ferns, and then the heath: the first two evenings
unsuccessfully ; the third I tried sweeping, and to my delight
obtained about a dozen in the first hour. The question then
became, what was the food-plant? and on careful search
found it was grass (Molinia cerulea). After that I collected
them without any trouble, feeding by night, about half-way
up the blade of grass.__I bred a nice series of the imago this
spring, and tried to obtain eggs, but have failed, although I
placed several pairs on the food-plant I had growing in a
large pot.—G. C. Bignell; 6, Clarence Place, Stonehouse,
Plymouth.

Names of Insects.—\ shall be much obliged if you will be
so kind as to name the insects | forward with this. No. 1,
one of the Ichneumonide, I bred from a mass of long,
fusiform, brownish cocoons, found at the base of willow
stumps; the little bee, No. 4, I have obtained very commonly
by sweeping in grassy places in May and June, whilst the
Dipterous insect, No. 5, is the only one of the kind I have
seen ; from its long, sabre-shaped ovipositor it would appear

2B

186 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

to be parasitical on other insects. Is this the case ?—W. A.
Forbes; 35, South Castle Street, Edinburgh, June 17, 1874.

[The insects are returned named, with the exception of the
little black ichneumon with exuded ovipositor, which I must
decline; I have never professed to name ichneumons. ‘The
little bees, of the genus Halictus, positively swarm on all
garden-flowers at this time of year. The pretty fly, No. 5, is
a gall-maker, not a parasite; the long ovipositor is for the
purpose of penetrating the rind of the twig, in which it
deposits its eggs: from this peculiar structure the insect has
been named Stylata.—Edward Newman. |

Acronycta Alni in the New Forest.—On returning yesterday
with a friend from a New Forest expedition, between Broken-
hurst and Lyndhurst, our attention was suddenly aitracted by
the brilliant yellow and rich dark blue colours of this splendid
and unmistakable caterpillar, at rest, in a slightly curved
position, on some old palings.—W. Borrer, jun.; Covgfold,
Horsham, Sussex, July 25, 1874.

Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society
of London, May 4th and June 1st, 1874.

Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., President, in the chair.

Supposed Albino Solenobia.—Mr. W. C. Boyd exhibited
specimens of Solenobia inconspicuella, taken in St. Leonard’s
Forest, and amongst them a specimen, taken at the same
time, of a remarkably pale colour, which might possibly be
an albino variety, but had a very different appearance from
the ordinary form.

Brachycentrus subnubilus.—Mr. Boyd also exhibited some
leaves of the common comfrey (Symphytum oflficinale),
gathered at Cheshunt, the under sides of which were found
to be completely covered with specimens of Brachycentrus
subnubilus. ‘There appeared to be some hundreds of speci-
mens closely packed together, and they were all dead, or in
a moribund state, when found. All were said to be males,
but on close examination a single female specimen was
discovered amongst them. No explanation could be given as
to the object of their congregating together. Mr. Stainton
remarked that there were many such instances ofa habit of con-
gregating amongst insects, which were equally unaccountable,
and as an instance he mentioned a fact known to all breeders

a an oe

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 187

of Micro-Lepidoptera respecting the pupation of the greater
number of the Nepticule, the larvae of which live solitary as
leaf-miners ; but if a number of leaves, containing larve, are
collected and placed together in a box, it is found that the
cocoons are constructed gregariously between certain leaves,
without any apparent reason for the preference.
Timber-boring Beetle-—Mr. Charles O. Waterhouse read
the following note by Dr. Lamprey, Surgeon-Major of the
67th Regiment, on the habits of a boring-beetle found in
British Burmah. A specimen of the insect was exhibited, and
also two portions of stem which had been operated upon.
The insect was one of the Bostrichide, belonging to the
genus Sinoxylon. “On examining the plants in my garden
one afternoon, [ was struck with what appeared to be an
injury done to one of the trees, the name of which I do not
know,—this being the winter season, no blossom apparent,
and nearly all the plants new to me. The branches of this
particular tree are straight, grow upright, and are about half
an inch to an inch in their diameter. One of the tallest of
these branches, which reached to a height of about eight
feet, was apparently broken and lying on the other branches,
as if it was cut or broken off in a mischievous way. I was on
the point of questioning the gardener about it, when I observed
the leaves of another branch quite withered, and, on taking
hold of it to bend it towards me, it snapped in a curiously
brittle manner. Looking at where it was broken, I found the
stem to be completely severed with a clean division, and that
it was only kept together by the thin outer layer of the bark.
Examining another branch, I found it snapped in an equally
mysterious way, but in doing so a small black insect fell out
of the broken part; it was too rapid in its movements, and I
lost it. On further examination of the broken parts, and
putting them into position again, I found a small circular
opening, about the size of the hole in the gall-nut, and
concluded that the insect I saw had eaten its way into the
stem, and by devouring the wood completely round, and not
along its long axis, accounted for the fracture in this particular
locality. Since then I have been on the watch to discover
the insect, and have succeeded in securing two specimens ;
one was found in the stem on breaking it across in the
position of one of the external apertures: this specimen is
somewhat injured by the loss of one of its elytra. The other

188 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

specimen I found had buried itself so far into the stem as just
to leave its posterior part exposed. They are both beetles,
about a quarter of an inch in length, black in colour, and
have a large head of peculiar shape, well adapted, no doubt,
to contain powerful muscles and mandibles for tearing the
tough woody fibre of the stem of the plant; but I leave their
description to the entomologists. The office these creatures
are no doubt intended to fulfil in Nature’s economy is to
assist in keeping the tropical vegetation in check. They
burrow into the stem of the tree, are rewarded by the sap and
nourishment it affords, and are liberated, after performing
this task, by a gust of wind snapping the undermined and
weakened stem across. They are not found in other trees or
shrubs than the one alluded to. The beetle turns on his side
while boring, his back being towards the bark: in this
manner his form suits the circumference of the stem.”

White Ant bred at Kew.—Mr. M‘ULachlan exhibited
specimens of a white ant (Calotermes sp.), recently bred at
Kew from a sample of the wood of the tree (Trachylobium
Hornmannianum) that produces the gum copal of Zanzibar.

Deiopeia pulchella in Cornwall.—Mr. Stainton read a
letter he had received from the Rev. P. H. Newnham, of
Stonehouse, Devon, stating that he had taken two living
specimens of Deiopeia pulchella, on the opposite side of the
river Tamar, in Cornwall. Mr. Stainton remarked on the
-unusual circumstance of the insect having been captured at
such an early season as the month of May.

A Living Mantid exhibited—Mr. Charles O. Waterhouse
sent for exhibition a living specimen of a Mantid (Empusa
pauperata), in the larva or pupa state, brought from Hyéres
by the Rev. Mr. Sandes, of Wandsworth. The captor stated
that he had supplied it with flies, &c., in the hope of ascer-
taining the mode in which it seized them, but that he could
not induce it to eat anything while he was looking on.
Mr. Stainton suggested that if he had put a living spider in
the cage it would probably have seized it immediately.

The Coffee-borer of Naial.—The Secretary read the fol-
lowing note, which he had received from Mr. William D. Gooch,
of Spring Vale, Little Umhlanga, Natal, respecting the habits
of the Longicorn “ coffee-borer of Natal” :— The egg, as far
as we can determine, is laid about the level of the soil, about
the middle of December, at a time when the trees look most

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 189

healthy, are making most wood, and the circulation of the sap
is most free, it being also during the damp part of the year.
I have, however, despite considerable investigation, been
unable to get specimens of the egg, and so watch the deve-
lopment of the larva from the earliest stages. Specimens of
the larva have already been laid before the members of your
Society, but I forward by this post also some specimens. In
only three cases, about January or December, have I met
with any insect in the bark, between the level of the ground
and the roots, at all corresponding to the larger insect found
in the wood. On examining those trees with larve in, with
hardly any exception, we discover the bark eaten away, or
rather, | should say, wanting, about the level of the ground;
from this place to the entrance-hole of the borer in the forks
of the roots there is always to be observed a more or less
irregular channel or road cut in the bark leading from one to
the other, and in this channel I discovered two of the three
small specimens of larva mentioned above. The entrance-
hole of the larva is very irregularly placed; sometimes it
begins as an excavation along one of the roots at a fork in
the rootlets ; sometimes it enters immediately under the first
root, hardly below the ground. I have not noticed the entrance
of the larva above ground, except in two instances, when there
was a hole below the lowest primary in one case and the
second primary in the other. I did not, however, satis-
factorily determine that these were the same insect, or, even
if so, they may be considered as accidental cases. The
excavation of the wood of the tree by the larve need not be
entered into, as every one must be well aware of their powerful
mandibles and their unlimited appetites. How long the insect
remains in the larva form I have not yet been able to judge;
but in consequence of finding always two and sometimes three
distinct sizes in the insects taken out of a hundred trees,
1 imagine not less than two years, and possibly so long
as three. The first transformation at present I have only
observed in October; but I am half inclined to think there is
a double brood, and another transformation about May: as
I was not in the colony at that time last year, having given
my attention to the question since July last, I am looking
forward next month to deciding this point, as unluckily we
have many diseased trees to operate on. J enclosed with the
larva formerly sent to you a specimen of the pupa; it was first

190 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

discovered about the beginning of October, and was found till
the middle of December. The first perfect insects were found
in the beginning of December and the last week in November.
The imago, from the name, I imagine to be Anthorea leuco-
notus, a longicorn, with the elytra covered with very fine down,
almost a bloom, and grayish colour, the bases of the elytra
being of a reddish chocolate, with a purplish shot on it when
newly emerged. The insect, I think, lies torpid after its com-
plete transformation till some ‘drying day’ comes, when it
bores its way out; but what happens to it afterwards I have
never been able to discover: only three specimens were found
on the whole estate, although I offered sixpence each for them,
and we were splitting trees with two and three perfect insects
in them each. When I speak of a ‘ drying day,’ I mean one
of the ‘hot winds’ from the north-west, which occur in our
spring here, taking the thermometer up to 100° in the shade, and
considerably affecting insect-life. -I noticed especially that
the morning after one of these hot winds, on splitting some of
the trees, the insects looked so lively that we left off splitting
in haste, and gathering the trees together in large heaps burnt
them straight off. I said before that only three insects were
found at large on the whole plantation by our people ; of these
two were in copuld on a primary branch of a coffee-tree, the
bark of which had been eaten away. This at once suggested
to me whether the female before depositing her eggs may not
decorticate a small portion of the trunk for the purpose of
depositing? I did not see a single specimen on the wing, and
in many cases I found the elytra so hard to open that they
seemed soldered; nor could I by exposure to the sun or any
other means ever induce the perfect insects to take wing ; they
always crawled. So far I have dealt with the insects; I may
now add, in reply to some remarks communicated by you in
your minutes, that Mr. Keit, the Botanical Curator of our
Gardens here, recommended by Dr. Hooker, says that he sees
no cause whatever to believe the trees die from any want
of vitality, nor do they seem specially affected in any way,
yielding good crops and looking well till the borer has very
often emerged, after which they languish and die rapidly. I
hear from other managers, on strong soils, that very often on
one aspect, N. and N.E., they find the developed grub as
much as 90 per cent., but that, in the same valley, the opposite
slope, S.W. and S.E. (our cold slopes), the insect is not

THE ENTOMOLOGIST 191

present above 5 per cent., although the mortality of the trees
is about the same. From this I gather either that the insect
a secondary cause, or that the cold aspect is not favorable to
the development of the insect beyond the stage when they
have damaged the bark, and so more or less killed the tree.
On slopes it is noticeable that the lowest side of the tree is that
attacked, where by washing from rains the more tender bark
is exposed, and very likely the drought cracks it a litle. My
proposed remedies and modus operandi for the prevention of
this evil are as follows:—1. To remove all trees which are
visibly affected before the insect matures. This, through non-
comprehension of the cause of disease, was not done, and our
estate and the adjoining one have suffered by the presence of
so many centres of evil left to take effect upon the surrounding
coffee. 2. About the time the egg or young is still in or
under the bark, to keep a staff of men rubbing the trees round
the roots with iron gloves, or sticks, with sand, so as to crush
the insect in its larva-state. 3. About the time the insect
emerges, to keep boys hunting for and picking off the beetle
as it adheres to the tree. 4. To let the same boys search for
newly-made holes of emergence, and pass wires, &c., down
them, so as to destroy the insects therein, in case the beetle
should have the habit of re-entering the hole as a cache during
the day. Your member’s suggestion as to the non-destruction
of insectivorous birds is a very good one; but I am afraid
they are too few, or rather the insect-life is so immense, that
they will not play a very important part in helping us. No
one shoots birds in the bush round us.” Referring to one of
the modes adopted by Mr. Gooch for killing the larva,
Mr. Dunning suggested that rubbing the bark of the trees
round the roots, as stated, would hardly have the desired
effect, and would probably damage the tree more than the
insect, Dr. Horn (of Philadelphia) also doubted the efficacy
of the remedy of inserting wires in the holes, which he
compared to shutting the stable-door when the steed was
stolen. He stated that in Philadelphia a public park had
been planted with a great many different kinds of exotic
trees, and amongst them were some pines, which were all
destroyed by two of their native species, Callidium antennatum
and Monohammus dentator. None of their native trees
suffered, but the foreign Conifer were killed immediately.
Dr. Horn also stated that it was his belief that the Longicorus

192 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

attack healthy trees, and that the Conifer in question had
been previously noticed as the finest and healthiest young
trees in the park. ‘The lime trees from Europe were also
destroyed in a similar manner by hosts of Saperde. Mr.
M‘Lachlan repeated what he had stated on a former occasion,
that European entomologists generally were of opinion that
the majority of the European species of Longicorns do not
attack living trees while in a perfectly healthy state.

Proceedings of the South London Entomological Society.
—The half-yearly meeting took place on the 18th of June,
under the presidency of Mr. J. R. Wellman. The secretary’s
report was read, and proved to be highly satisfactory.
Donations of books from Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P.,
Mr. Edward Newman, and Mr. Charles G. Barrett, were
thankfully acknowledged. During the half year seventeen
volumes have been added to the library, including Walker’s
‘Diptera,’ 3 vols.; Stainton’s ‘Tineina’ (vol. iv. of ‘Insecta
Britannica’); Rye’s ‘Beetles;’ several volumes of the
‘Weekly Intelligencer ;’ and the ‘Transactions of the Nor-
folk Naturalist’s Society—Supplement, Lepidoptera.’ Fifteen
new members have been elected, and three have resigned.
Amongst the most noteworthy insects exhibited at the
meetings were—a specimen of Hydrilla Palustris, taken at
Norwich, 1871; Macaria alternata, two specimens, taken
near London, June, 1874; Erastria venustula, at Loughton,
1874; Ephyra orbicularia; larve of L. quadra, E. debiliata,
A. precox, 8. Semele, and many others beautifully preserved,
by Mr. Hoey. Mr. Cole also exhibited a fine nest of Vespa
Crabro, from Thetford, in Norfolk. The Society’s first annual
excursion will take place on August 8rd, to Three Bridges,
for Tilgate Forest.

British Bee-keepers’ Association.—This Association was
instituted, May, 1874, for the encouragement, improvement
and advancement of bee-culture in the United Kingdom,
particularly as a means of bettering the condition of cottagers
and the agricultural labouring classes, as well as the advocacy
of humanity to the industrious Jabourer—the honey-bee. It
will hold its first great exhibition of bees and their produce,
hives, and bee-furniture, at the Crystal Palace, September 8th,
9th, and 10th, 1874, being the days of the autumn fruit and
flower show.

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Pee

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

No. 1383.] SEPTEMBER, MDCCCLXXIV. [Price 6d.

Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s
‘Die Mitteleuropiischen Eichengallen’ by Mrs. HuBErrT
HERKOMER née WEISE.

Fig. 14.

TRIGONASPIS MEGAPTERA,.

14. Trigonaspis megaptera.—Only once, many years ago,
I have found several specimens of this red, berry-like gall,
growing between the cracks of the bark at the lower part of
the stem of an old oak. It is spherical, of the size of a pea
or smaller, red, very sappy, and contains a larva cell. This
gall only lasts a very short time, the wasp already leaving it
in June. After this escape the gall shrivels up and gets
brown.—G. L. Mayr.

The associates which live externally or internally with the
house-holders of oak-galls are here briefly mentioned: they,
and the house-holders, will be noticed more in detail else-
where, with the help of Dr. Mayr’s progressive work on galls
and their in-dwellers. Of this work three chapters are
published: one on oak-galls, another on Synergus and the
allied genera, and another on the Torymide. He states that
Callimome Erucarum, C. nobilis (= Roboris), and C.ameenus,
are parasites of Aphilothrix Radicis; that C. nobilis is a

VOL. VII. PACs.

194 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

parasite of Biorhiza aptera; that C. nobilis is a parasite of
Aphilothrix Sieboldi; that C. Erucarum, C.abdominalis, and
C. regius, are parasites of Cynips cerricola; that Megastigmus
dorsalis is a parasite of Dryophanta macroptera and of
Andricus noduli; and that Callimome ameenus, C. flavipes,
and Syntomaspis fastuosa, are parasites of Trigonaspis
megaptera. Synergus pallicornis associates with Cynips
Hartigi, S. pallidipennis with Cynips conifica, and S. thau-
macera with ‘lrigonaspis megaptera. I mentioned 'T. megap-
tera and some of its parasites many years ago, when [
observed the gall on oak trunks, near London; and I saw it
again this year in May, near Lanark: it was mostly near the
ground, and in no case above the height of six feet. In the
beginning of June thirty-six males and females of T. megaptera
appeared, and towards the end
Fig. 15. of this month they were followed
by five or six females of Syner-
gus thaumacera.—f’. Walker.
Developed on the young shoots, out of
terminal or axillar buds.

15. Cynips argentea—This
large, beautiful gall is found in
the axils of Quercus pubescens
(very rarely in those of Q. sessi-
liflora), in the country round
Vienna. It is seldom met with
there, but occurs more fre-
quently in Southern Europe.
It is spherical in shape, and
measures seventeen to thirty
millemetres in diameter. Around
the short-conical, blunt and
bossed tip, which is exactly
opposite the basal attachment,
there is a border or crown,
from which the parallel radius
to the middle of the gall measures
ten to fifteen millemetres. This
border is garnished with short
blunt points, and is generally less
Cynirs aRGENTEA (and in section). than the greatest circumference

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 195

of the gall. The gall is hard, has a slightly flat crown,
and is covered with a white tinge caused by a delicate
exudation. A section of the mature gall exhibits a dry,
spongy, brownish yellow parenchyma, which is cracked
across the centre. It contains the inner gall with the perfect
insect, and adheres but loosely to the reticulation. Late in
the autumn the gall is mature, remains on the branch, and is
pierced by the perfect insect in the following February.—G.
L. Mayr.

I have already published some notes on the inhabitants of
- this gall, which is called “crowned gall.” Synergus melanopus,
S. Reinhardi, and S. pallicornis, are stated by Dr. Mayr to
keep company with C. argentea, and he mentions Callimome
regius and Megastigmus stigmaticans as its parasites. Many
years ago several galls of C. argentea, from the neighbourhood
of Naples, were given to me by the Rev. F. W. Hope, and I
obtained from them two specimens of C. argentea, one
Megastigmus stigmaticans, one Diomorus calcaratus, one
Osmia, one Hyleus, one other aculeate Hymenopteron, and
one Fenus. Most of these insects—perhaps all, with the
exception of the first and the second—belong to the second
epoch of the gall, or constitute the after-life in it. I found,
in June, 1872, a few of these galls at Albano and Terni, near
Rome, and shortly afterwards Synergus pallicornis came out
of them in abundance, and a few females of Megastigmus
stigmaticans, which I formerly described as M. giganteus,
that MS. name having been given to it by Kollar. I also
procured from these galls Eurytoma ‘squamea(?) (smaller
than the usual size), E. coronata, n., Pteromalus lucidus (?),
P. albidipes, n., Eupelmus spongipartus, Tetrastichus coro-
natus, n., and Chrysis dichrous,—for this name I am indebted
to Mr. F. Smith. Descriptions of the three species here
mentioned as new are deferred. Eurytoma coronata belongs
to the group formerly named Isosoma; Eupelmus spongi-
partus, Moerst., hardly differs from E. urozonus, except in the
slightly longer oviduct,—I am indebted to Dr. Mayr for the
name of it.— Francis Walker.

196 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Notes on the Wing-bones of the Two-winged Flies.
By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p. 149.)

Bones. AREOLETS.
j Mediastinal. B_ Subcostal.
g Subcostal. K Radial.
k Radial. C’ Cubital, 1st.
ce Cubital. C” Cubital, 2nd.
ce’ Cubital, 1st branch. B’ Prebrachial,
c’’ Cubital, 2nd branch. B” Pobrachial.
d’ Prebrachial, 1st branch. D’ Subapical, 1st.
d’’ Prebrachial, 2nd branch. D” Subapical, 2nd.
m Pobrachial, 1st branch. Y Anal.
y Pobrachial, 2nd branch. V_ Subanal.
v Anal. I Discal.

w Subaxillary.
Fig. 31.—Cyrtus.

Ce

Figs. 32 & 382a.—Acrocera.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST 197

Fig. 33.—Henops.

Fig. 34.—Oncodes.

Fig. 35,-- Laphria.

Fig. 36.—Dasypogon.

SEVERAL of the Stratiomyde, such as Nemotelus, are of slow
and feeble flight, but Acrocera, Oncodes and Henops are still
more weak on the wing, as may be supposed by the structure
here represented, and their other movements are also very
inactive. In Cyrtus, on the contrary, the bones are much
more numerous, and extend to the border of the wing: the
first branch of the pobrachial joins the bone that is between
it and the second branch, and thus there is a closed areolet
behind the discal, forming one of the four externo-medial

198 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

areolets. The Asilide generally, including Laphria and
Dasypogon, are distinguished by the completeness of their
wing-structure, by their powerful flight, by their robust
bodies, by their thirst for blood, and by their lancet-like
mouths, from which the wing-case of beetles is not always
a sufficient defence: they chiefly abound in hot regions,
where they help to maintain the balance of life, by limiting
its excess in some forms. The radial areolet is open in
Dasypogon, closed in Laphria and in Asilus; in the first
genus the radial and subcostal bones are separate, in the
second and third they are united before they reach the
border. The resemblance between the wing of Rhyphus and
that of Leptis has been already remarked: in the former
there are two radial areolets, one cubital areolet, and the anal
areolet is open to the border; in the latter there are one
radial areolet, two cubital areolets, and the anal areolet is
closed before the border.
FRANCIS WALKER.

Occurrence of Butterflies at Dry Drayton, in the Months of
March, April, May, June, 1874. By the Rev. F. A.
WALEER, M.A.

1. Pieris Brassice.—Apnil 7, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29; May 17,
18, 21, 31; June 1, 2, 3, 4;4g06, 7, 21, 27. Observed on
nineteen different days in April, May, June.

2. P. Rape.—April 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28;
May 2, 8, 18, 21, 22, 24, 31; June 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 21,27. Ob-
served on twenty-three different days in April, May, June.

3. P. Napi.—April 25, 279328, 29; May 1, -6, 6, 17,
18, 29; June 5, 9. Observed on twelve different days in
April, May, June.

4, Anthocharis Cardamines.—April 29; May 16, 18, 21,
22, 24, 26, 30, 31; June 2, 3,9. Observed on twelve different
days in April, May, June.

Total number of appearances of Pieride, sixty-six.

5. Gonepteryx Rhamni.—Male: March 18, 23, 24, 28;
April 3, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28; June 5(?). Observed on ten
different days in March and April, one in June; but my eyes
might have deceived me concerning this last appearance,

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 199

which might have been that of a Pieris in the sunlight.
Female: March 28; April 23, 27. Observed on three
different days in March and April. Total number of appear-
ances of Gonepteryx, fourteen.

6. Vanessa Io.—March 23, 28, 29 (hybernated) ; April 3,
7, 8, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29; May 24. Observed on twelve
different days in March, April, May.

7. V. Polychloros.—March 28 (hybernated); April 11, 21,
22; May 2. Observed on five different days in March,
April, May.

8. V. Urtice.—March 24, 28 (hybernated) ; April 20, 21,
22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29; June 3, 27. Observed on
fourteen different days in March, April, June.

Total number of appearances of Vanessas, thirty-one.

9. Pyrarga Egeria.—April 23. Observed on one day in
April.

10. S. Megera.—May 20, 30, 31; June 1, 2, 4, 9. Ob-
served on seven days in May and June.

11. Caenonympha Pamphilus—May 30. Observed on
one day in May.

12. Satyrus Janira.—June 19, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29. .
Observed on seven different days in June.

Total number of appearances of Satyride, sixteen.

13. Chrysophanus Phleas.—April 22. Observed on one
day in April.

14. Polyommatus Alexis.—June 9,11. Observed on two
days in June. Total number of appearances of Polyommatus,
two.

15. Pamphila Sylvanus.—June 9. Observed on one day
in June.

Occurrence of genera:—Pieridew, seen sixty-six times;
Vanessas, thirty-one; Satyrids, sixteen; Gonepteryx, four-
teen; Chrysophanus, once; Polyommatus, twice; Pamphila,
once. Total number of appearances, one hundred and
thirty-one.

Of the said diurnal Lepidoptera, the three common species
of Pieridz would appear to occur most uninterruptedly when
they do arrive, but they are by no means the earliest seen.
Compare the following :—Gonepteryx Rhamni, earliest seen,
March 18; latest seen, April 28 or June 5 (uncertain, how-
ever). Vanessa Io, earliest, March 28; latest, May 24,

200 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

V. Urtice, earliest, March 24; latest, June 27 (disappearing
the whole of May). V. Polychloros, earliest, March 28;
latest, May 2. Pieris Brassice, earliest, April 7; latest,
June 27. P. Rapz, earliest, April 20; latest, June 27.
P. Napi, earliest, April 25; latest, June 9. Anthocharis
Cardamines, earliest, April 29; latest, June 9.

The remaining five species were only seen once each; and
of the ten, previously mentioned, I noticed five during the
first fortnight in July, namely,—Pieris Brassice, P. Rape,
P. Napi, Vanessa Urtice, and Satyrus Janira, as well as two
additional species that I had not observed from March to
June inclusive,—Satyrus Hyperanthus, July 3 and 4, and
Thecla W-Album, July 10.

From the foregoing statistics it will be perceived that of
the above fifteen species, so far at any rate as my own
observation went, Gonepteryx Rhamni (male) was the earliest
seen, on the 18th of March, and Polyommatus Alexis and
Pamphila Sylvanus the two latest, on the 9th of June. That
the two kinds, moreover, most frequently noticed, were Pieris
Rape, seen on twenty-three days, and P. Brassica, on nine-
teen ; next to these, Vanessa Urtice and Gonepteryx Rhamni,
seen respectively on fourteen days; and next, Pieris Napi,
Anthocharis Cardamines, and Vanessa lo, which were each
observed on twelve days. Also that of the tribe of whites,
which, as regards the number of individual specimens, do
not appear to be particularly numerous this season, Brassicz
occurred nearly a fortnight before Rape, more than a fort-
night before Napi, and three weeks before Cardamines; that
Rape was seen five days before Napi, and Napi in its turn
four days before Cardamines; that the earliest Satyrid
(P. Egeria) was observed nearly a month previous to any of its
congeners, on the 23rd of April, later than two species of
Pieridz, Brassice, and Rape, and earlier than another two,
Napi and Cardamines; that the three remaining species of
Satyridz were later than the two latest species of Pieridz ;
that Megera occurred ten days before Pamphilus, and thirty
days before Janira; that Pamphilus and Egeria were only
seen once each, but Janira and Megera seven times in each
case,—the appearances of Janira, however, being restricted to
June, and Megera, on the other hand, ranging over the two
months, May and June, being noticed three times in the

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 201

former month, and four in the latter; that of the three species
of Vanessa, Io appeared one day before Urtic, and five
days before Polychloros; that Polychloros, the latest of the
Vanessas, was seen between three and four weeks before the
earliest of the Satyrids, Egeria, and eleven days before the
earliest of the Pieride, Brassice; that no one of the said
fifteen species was seen by me during all the four months in
question,—March, April, May, and June, some being seen
during the space of three months, some for two, and others
during only one; and that as regards the number of speci-
mens seen, Satyrus Janira was decidedly the most abundant;
and that on no one day were more than seven species observed.
Compare also the following :—

March 1lst—17th, no species seen; 18th, one species seen ;
23rd, two; 24th, three; 28th, four; 29th, one: appearances,
eleven. April 3rd, two species seen; 7th, two; 8th, one;
llth, one; 19th, one; 20th, three; 2Ist, four; 22nd, six;
23rd, six; 24th, three; 25th, four; 26th, four; 27th, seven;
28th, five; 29th, five: appearances, fifty-four. May Ist, one
species seen; 2nd, two; 5th, one; 6th, one; 8th, one;
16th, one; 17th, two; 18th, six; 20th, one; 2lst, three;
22nd, two; 24th, three; 26th, one; 29th, one; 30th, five ;
3lst, four: appearances, thirty-five. June Ist, two species
seen; 2nd, four; 3rd,three; 4th, three; Sth, four; 6th, two;
7th, two; 9th, five; llth, one; 19th, one; 2lst, two;
22nd, one; 23rd, one; 25th, two; 26th, one; 27th, four;
29th, one: appearances, thirty-nine. Aggregate of appear-
ances :—March, eleven; April, fifty-four; May, thirty-five ;
June, thirty-nine. So that in March butterflies appeared
only on five days out of thirty-one; also that in the ninety-
one days of April, May, aud June, butterflies were seen on
forty-eight days; not seen on forty-three. Also that on
fifteen out of the thirty days of April butterflies were noticed,
on sixteen out of the thirty-one days of May, and on seven-
teen out of the thirty days of June. In the first half of May
the cold weather contributed greatly to their disappearance.

The average number of species witnessed, moreover, is
higher in April than either May or June: as in April seven
species were seen once; six, twice; five, twice; four, three
times. In May six species were seen once; five, once;
four, once. In June five species were seen once; four,

2D

202 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

three times. Allowance must be made as regards the
accuracy of the above, deductions for a few days absence, as
well as engagements, precluding the power of observation.

In reference to the flowers especially frequented by the
butterflies recorded may be mentioned :—In the early part of
the season: wild hyacinth,—a favourite blossom for Io,
Rhamni, Rape, Cardamines, and Phleas; fruit-tree blossoms,
—lIo, Polychloros, and Urtice; periwinkles,—Rhamni and
Io. Later on in the year: Virginian stock,—Pieride and
Janira; thistle blossoms,—Janira and Urtice; species of
dead nettle in the hedge-rows likewise much frequented by
Pieridz. I may also state that the caterpillars of Vanessa Io
and Urtice have been very abundant this year on the nettles
in this parish and neighbourhood. I have already bred many
specimens of the latter; those of the former are still in the
pupa state. I subjoin the following dates :—

Vanessa Urtice.—Butterfly on nettles; April 27th and
28th, supposed period of eggs deposited. Caterpillars taken
on same nettles; June, first week. Chrysalids; June 13th to
June 25th inclusive. Butterfly; July 2nd to July 10th; the
perfect insect emerging in numbers during the last three of
days specified.

V. Lo.—Butterfly in neighbourhood of nettles; April 23rd
and 24th, supposed period of eggs deposited. Caterpillars
taken on same nettles; June 15th. Chrysalids; July 6th,
7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th. A large number still in the larva
state.

In conclusion I have only to state that as regards the
discovery of the caterpillars of Vanessa Io and Urtice, I have
given the dates of the earliest found, and where I could more
certainly connect them with the presence of the butterflies,
which I had previously seen fluttering in the locality. I
continued to find the caterpillars of V. Urtice up to the
19th of June, and those of V. Jo up to the 3rd of July, and a
few even on the 10th, on which I am writing.

F. A. WALKER.
The Rectory, Dry Drayton,

July 10, 1874.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 203

Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.

A New(?) Food-plant for Melitea Artemis.—I have tried
for the last three seasons to breed M. Artemis, on what I have
always understood to be their usual food-plants, namely,
Plantago lanceolata and Scabiosa succisa, but have never
been able to succeed in getting a single larva to feed on these
plants. Having obtained a few dozen larve in the spring of
this year, I resolved to try a new food-plant: I supplied the
larve with honeysuckle, on which, to my surprise, they fed
up rapidly, and in due course attained the pupa state. From
these pupe I have bred a series of very dark imagos, varying
both in size and colouring, not only from those I have taken
in Sussex and Kent, but also from any that I have received
or seen, either from the western and northern counties of
England, or from Ireland or Scotland.—H. Goss; Brighton,
August 20, 1874.

Apatura Iris in Monmouthshire-—Last week a friend of
mine brought me two specimens of Apatura Iris, both males,
which were taken in this neighbourhood: one was captured
in the kitchen, and the other outside, but close to a house in
the country. This insect was caught and seen very frequently
near here some five or six years ago. The county is omitted
from the list in your work on ‘ British Butterflies. —H. Sta/-
ford Gustard ; Usk, Monmouthshire, August 1, 1874.

Melanagria Galathea in Lincolnshire.—In your ‘ History
of British Butterflies, p. 79, you remark that hitherto you
have no record of the occurrence of the marbled white,
Melanagria Galathea, in this county. The following note
may, therefore, be of interest:—On the 18th of July, when
driving across the wolds between Rigby and Caistor, and
near the highest part of the wold, I noticed numerous
examples of M. Galathea flitting in rather a lazy, undecided
manner along the hedge-banks bordering the road. Returning
some hours later by a parallel road to this, about one mile to
the eastward, and on the summit of the wold, I again came
across numbers of this butterfly, both along the road-side and
in old disused chalk-pits contiguous. They seem very partial
to settling on blossoms of the thistle and knobweed (Centaurea
nigra). Altogether, on both roads, I must have seen several
scores. I only took one example, as I was not aware, at the

204 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

time, of its rarity in Lincolnshire. I never remember butter-
flies so scarce as they are this year, and this has generally
been remarked in this neighbourhood. I spent ten days last
month on the highest part of the Shap Fells, in Westmoreland,
and although I sometimes walked twenty miles a day, and
was constantly out of doors, scarcely came across a single
butterfly of any description. One of my boys is collecting
butterflies and moths, so that I was constantly on the look
out, and did not overlook any.—John Cordeaux; Great
Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire, August 4, 1874.

Hepialus Velleda at Horsham, Sussex.—It may be inte-
resting to entomologists to know that on the 15th August I
found in the house a fine specimen of a female of the above
species, which had been observed fluttering upon the blind
of an open window the previous morning, and had probably
flown in. I had always understood this to be quite a northern
insect. The common brake is very abundant in the neigh-
bourhood.—David Price.

Food-plant of Orgia gonostigma.—I wish to set right a
small mistake inrespect to the food-plant of Orgyia gonostigma.
It states in some works that this species feeds on oak, but I
find it feeds on blackthorn and hawthorn, the latter being
preferred.mHenry Robinson; 23, Court 6 House, Gosford
Street, Coventry.

Deiopeia pulchella in Sussex.—A young lady friend, who
was looking over my collection of Lepidoptera a week or two
back, noticed a specimen of this insect in my collection, which
was taken in Somersetshire, September, 1848, and observed
she had taken a moth like it about a month back. I asked
her if she was quite certain, and she said she was, and sure
enough she was right, for on my calling to see the specimen
found it to be in fair condition and perfect, but a pale
example. She took me to the spot two days ago, which is in
a field of mixed herbage, surrounded by ditches, lying
between Poling and Little Hampton, in Sussex, and not, I
should have supposed, a very likely spot. She has kindly
added the specimen to my collection. On referring she finds
it was taken on the afternoon of the 28th of June: it flew up
out of a patch of the Lotus corniculatus, and settled on a
thistle. Being only a young collector she was not aware of
the rarity at the time, so did not search for more. It must be

a eee

a hd

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 205

a specimen of the first brood; most of the recent records of
its capture in England, if I recollect rightly, have given
August and September. It will be curious if it turns up
again this autumn, as it did two or three years ago.— Samuel
Stevens ; 28, King Street, Covent Garden, August 18, 1874.

Nola centonalis at Sittingbourne.—I have taken a few
specimens of Nola centonalis at Sittingbourne, flying in the
manner as described by Mr. Dalton in his taking of Albulalis,
and in company with Acidalia Emutaria. Is not this a new
locality for the species?’—W’. Wigan; Wincheap, Canterbury.

Eupithecia plumbeolata and E, valerianata.—A fortnight
ago I had a ramble to Pilling Moss—and a long one it is—to
look for Elachista Serricornella: on the middle of the moss
grows in plenty Malampyrum arvense; I collected a bag-full
of the flowers, hoping that eggs were laid upon them.
Yesterday I had a collecting day in my bag, and found about
thirty larvze in all stages, and a few pup as well; and from
my bag-full of Valerian I should think quite one hundred
larve, mostly full fed, of Valerianata (Viminata); there were
plenty of Endorea pallida and Phycis carbonariella: which
was. my reward for a long walk, a run with a bull, a good
sweating, worried with flies and midges, as well as a great
viper hissing at me amongst the long grass, before my stick
went at it.—J. B. Hodgkinson ; 15, Spring Bank, Preston,
August 10, 1874.

Tapinostola Bondii at Lyme Regis.—I have taken Tapi-
nostola Bondii at Lyme Regis, an entirely new station for
it—_ W. H. Tugwell ; 3, Lewisham Road, Greenwich, August
1, 1874.

Acronycta Alni at Lyndhurst.—A fine, full-fed larva of
this species was brought to me yesterday, by a man who had
found it on some palings close to my house.—H. Goss ;
Lyndhurst, July 30, 1874.

Noctua sobrina in Rannoch.—t( have had the good fortune to
discover a new locality for Noctua sobrina, in a heathy place,
some distance south of Loch Rannoch, Perthshire. Last spring
I accidentally found an injured larva, which shortly afterwards
died: it was so suggestive of the description given in
Mr. Stainton’s ‘ Manual’ of N. sobrina, that 1 determined to
work for the perfect insect when due. I was rewarded by
taking several specimens, and also by obtaining a few eggs.

206 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

I find this species exceedingly local in its habitat.—John T.
Carrington ; Poole Road, Egremont, Birkenhead, August 1,
1874.

Pachnobia alpina in Rannoch.—I had the pleasure of cap-
turing a specimen of this fine and rare species this summer in
Perthshire: it was taken in the Breadalbane division (as divided
by Dr. White in his ‘ Fauna Perthensis’), close to the summit
of a mountain of upwards of three thousand feet in height.
It may interest some of your readers to know that this was
the only result of fourteen whole nights and several days
spent at that height: I sugared each night, but it produced
nothing but an occasional Noctua festiva. The nights spent
at this altitude were alternate ones; the other evenings were
occupied by sugaring in the valley where I stayed: these
latter sugarings produced many moths, so that the paucity of
insects at sugar on the mountains could not be the result of
the bad season we have had in Scotland this year. Consider-
ing the result, and the extreme discomfort of mountain-tops
at night, for | was many times enveloped in thick clouds for
hours together, I do not think it worth while to work again
for this cloud-loving species. I believe there are only four
previous records of this species being taken in Great Britain,
namely, the two named in the ‘ Manual, a third taken by
Mr. Eedle, on Schiehallion, in 1870, and one bred from a
pupa found while hunting for Coleoptera, in Braemar, by
Mr, Allin: these may be called accidental captures; so I
feel the more pleasure in having gone for, and obtained, the
species.—d.

Pachnobia alpina in Rannoch.—I have again had the
pleasure of taking this rare species in Scotland, on the same
mountain that I took one in 1870. In the same week I had
the misfortune to miss another in Glen Sassenach, on a
mountain called Squapen. I believe this species occurs on
all the high mountains in Scotland if they could only be well
collected over; but the great difficulty is wind and rain, that
prevent you doing much on the tops of the higher mountains.
—T. Eedle; 40, Goldsmith Row, Hackney Road, N.E.

Evrastria venustula at Horsham, Sussex.—On June 2nd I
took eight of the above insect in St. Leonard’s forest, at a
part called “ Roost Hole,” about three miles from the town.
I might easily have caught a hundred settled on the heath:

i a

i

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 207

they flew very little before sunset, but about dusk they began
to fly straight down the different paths by dozens, and I did
not see any settled after this. I should have taken more, but
I ran short of pins. I went again on June 6th, and took
fifteen more,—all I saw then; and on June 9th I again took
nine, some of which were very much faded, and I have not
seen any since.—David Price; West Street, Horsham.

Captures in Sutherlandshire-—Thinking it may interest
some of the readers of the ‘ Entomologist,’ I beg to give you
the names of the Lepidoptera that I took in Sutherland
last month:—Ccenonympha Davus, plentiful on the bogs;
Melanippe tristata, very plentiful on the side of the “ burns ;”
and one specimen of Plusia Chrysitis. The Tristata were not
black, but a dark dusky brown. Being on a fishing excursion
I unfortunately only got a few specimens of these species.—
C. L. Adams; Walford Manor, Shrewsbury, Aug. 15, 1874.

Macherium maritimum (Fam. Dolichopidz).—Macherium
maritimum was first named and described as a new genus and
species by A. H. Haliday, in 1831; and its economy has
been lately observed by Mr. Joshua Brown, of Bartonbury.
The cocoons were found in the beginning of June, on the
sands at a bay about two miles beyond the town of Weston-
super-Mare: Mr. Brown kept them moist with a little salt
water, and the flies came out during a week about the middle
of June. The pupa is pale, about three and a half lines in
length, decreasing in breadth from the head to the tip of the
abdomen; the head and the thorax are large, and closely
connected ; there are eight abdominal segments, and the legs
and rudimentary wings are distinct; the antenne are two-
thirds as long as the body, and much longer than those of
the developed fly; the scape is thick; the flagellum is
setaceous and black at the base. The cocoon is pale gray,
elongate-oval, about six lines in length, smooth without and
within, and appears to be composed of fine mud.—Fyancis
Walker.

Microgaster in Brazil.—\n Hymenoptera and Diptera
there are often examples of nearly allied species inhabiting
wide-apart districts of the earth. Microgaster, whose larve
form little yellow cocoons attached to the skins of caterpillars,
are well known in Europe, and I am indebted to Mr. F.
Smith, of the British Museum, for a mass of white cocoons

208 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

from Catagalla, in Brazil. They are accompanied by an
abundance of Microgaster that does not seem to differ from
the one of Europe, but the cluster is much larger and more
closely united, and looks like a compact tuft of cotton.—
Francis Walker.

Note on Phylloxera Quercus.—Phylloxera Quercus will
probably be soon observed more than hitherto in England,
on account of the observations of Balbiani with reference to
it, and on account of its affinity to the much-dreaded
Phylloxera vastatrix, on which Riley has this year bestowed
fifty-six pages in the sixth annual report on the ‘ Insects of
Missouri ;’ yet he remarks that the full history of Phylloxera
has yet to be written. Phylloxera is nearly allied to Chermes,
on which Leuckart long ago made some interesting researches;
and P. Quercus agrees with Chermes as to the mode of life in
the winter generation. The appearance of P. Quercus this
year was somewhat earlier than usual: it was abundant in
the beginning of July, when, in addition to the generally-
distributed whitish blotches caused by Orchestes Quercus,
oak trees may be seen here and there with leaves covered by
yellow spots, feach of which, sometimes fifty in number on
one leaf, shows the presence of a Phylloxera on the under
side. There the mother sits, surrounded by concentric
circles of eggs, sometimes one hundred in number, and in
that case there might be five thousand eggs under one leaf;
but this, perhaps, never happens: sometimes the mother has
no eggs about her, and then the yellow spot is limited to the
size of her body; sometimes the mother has disappeared
from the eggs; sometimes a Scymnus(?) larva appropriates
one by one the whole cluster of eggs, and then the mother
has desolation all around her. Callipterus Quercus and The-
laxes dryophila appear now and then in company with the
Phylloxera: the Thelaxes not only frequents oak-apples, but
also feeds. on incipient acorns, and on incipient galls of
Dryophanta folii.—Jd.

Rearing Larvein Earthenware Pots.—I suppose most ento-
mologists have found jam-pots, or the ordinary garden-pots,
covered with leno or muslin, and with a little earth at the
bottom if the habits of the species require it, to be convenient
in many respects for the rearing of larve not too young.
They are especially suitable when twigs or stems of the

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 209

food-plant can be given, and where a daily supply can be
had, rendering it unnecessary to place these in water, for
many larve are apt to thrive badly on twigs so supported,
and I think a daily turn-out, and a fresh supply of food is
more healthful; in very hot weather it may be needful to
renew the food twice a day. But I find one drawback, which
I have not succeeded in removing, and which is particularly
operative in the spring and autumn: larve are liable to crawl
occasionally on the earthenware sides of the pots, and as
these get cold they seem to chill the feet and claspers of
young larve, and produce a species of cramp, or perhaps it
may be a rheumatic ailment. Lining the pots with paper
does not answer very well. Perhaps some other entomologists
have noticed this annoyance, and devised a remedy. The
rearer of larvee cannot be too watchful for the appearance of
several of the moths of the genus Tinea in his breeding-
house; it is not sufficient merely to exclude the imagos from
boxes and cages: guided by instinct, they deposit eggs on
the gauze or zinc, and the larve, dropping through, prey
upon the pupe that may be below; should there be none,
they will devour moss. I will not say that, in lack of other
food, they may not even eat earth, like niggers of certain
races, often discoursed upon by travellers.—J. R. S. Clifford.

Emelesia unifasciata at Cheltenham.—I took four speci-
mens of Unifasciata here on the 19th. I think it is new to
this district—W. C. Marshall; 8, Spa Buildings, Chelten-
ham, August 22, 1874.

Death through the Sting of a Hornet.—The deputy
coroner for the Reading division of Berkshire has held an
inquest at Mortimer, a village near Reading, touching the
death, under extraordinary circumstances, of Mrs. Sarah
Merrett, a labourer’s wife. Deceased was standing in the
road near her house, when a hornet flew out from a nest in
the bank and stung her on the right side of her neck. She
went indoors, and a neighbour bathed her neck with water
and vinegar. However, she fainted almost immediately, and
expired in a few minutes, before a medical man could reach
the house. Mr. G. H. Davis, surgeon, stated at the inquest
that he knew Mrs. Merrett as a nervous, excitable woman,
and he believed the immediate cause of her death was
syncope, the result of a nervous shock caused by the sting of

2E

210 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

the hornet. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with
that opinion. Deceased was fifty years of age.

[This is one of the best authenticated instances of death
from the sting of a hornet that I have ever met with, and I
think admits of no doubt. The medical question of shock or
poison is scarcely within my province, but I shall have
occasion to say something of another sting shortly —Ldward
Newman. |

Peat Insects.—If any of your readers could give me the
names of any insects, Myriapods, or Arachnida, that have
been found in peat, marl, or any of the later tertiary deposits
of the United Kingdom, I shall be thankful. I am about
to publish a list of all the fossils of the Upper British
Tertiaries, and have only the following in my list, gathered
from many sources:—Atopa cervina, Buprestis sp., Cas-
sida sp., Chrysomela sp., Cimex sp., Coccinella sp., Copris
lunaris, Cossyphus sp., Curculio sp., Donacia linearis, Dy-
tiscus sp., Elater lineatus, Harpalus sp., Licinus sp., Oiceop-
toma dispar, Oreina sp., Phryganea sp. The locality and
matrix in which the forms are embedded is requested, as well
as the names of the organisms.—Al/fred Bell; 5, Grafton
Street, Fitzroy Square, July 25, 1874.

Answers to Correspondents.

Miss A. Steele Perkins.—In the pursuit of moths and
butterflies I am continually meeting with other beautiful
or curious insects, about which I can obtain no information
in this decidedly unentomological part of the country. I
therefore write to ask if you will let me know whether there is
such a thing as a beginner’s book on Entomology, containing
information as to the number, names, and natural order, of
the great divisions of British insects; the habits, metamor-
phosis, &c., of the different classes; the number of species
in each class; and the manner of collecting and preserving
them.—Anne Steele Perkins; Ashgrove, Ruabon, April 21,
1874.

[As a first book, quite for beginners, the ‘ Insect Hunters,’
price 2s. 6d.; as a complete introduction to the Science,
Newman’s ‘ Familiar Introduction to the History of Insects,’

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 21}

price 12s.; for collecting and preserving only, Greene’s
‘Insect Hunter’s Companion,’ price ls. 6d. There are a great
many others, but they are either profound and learned books,
unintelligible to beginners, or pleasant compilations by authors
who have little or no practical acquaintance with the subject.
The above three books are published by Mr. Van Voorst, and
have been prepared especially to supply a want felt by all
learners.— Edward Newman. |

C. Le Merle Adams.—Palpi (or feelers)—organs attached
to the jaws of insects; ciliated—fringed with a series of
paralle) hairs; pectinated—furnished on one side with a
number of stiff parallel branches resembling the teeth of a
comb; costal—near or on the upper edge of the wing;
reniform—kidney-shaped ; discotdal—in the middle of the
wing, not near its margin; orbicular—round; glabrous—
smooth and shining; dorsal—on the back or upper surface ;
isabelline—the colour of a fawn; dlateral—on the side;
reticulations—fine marks like net-work. For explanations of
this kind I may also refer to the books recommended in
the previous note. There is no English work containing
illustrations of most of the Lepidopterous larve.—Edward
Newman.

Thomas Eedle and others.—I believe the nests sent this
summer from Scotland to be those of Vespa sylvestris of
Scopoli (‘Sp. Insectorum,’ vol. i. p. 460). I have particularly
examined the series of perfect insects, males and workers,
just brought by Mr. Eedle on his return from Rannoch.
Entomologists, who are desirous of studying the species of
British wasps, would do well to take the entire nest and all
its contents, and, after having allowed the cyanide to do its
work, to set and preserve every specimen, labelling them and
their nests with a similar number, and not introducing a
single specimen that was not actually killed zm the nest.
Mr. F. Smith, of the British Museum, and subsequently
Dr. Ormerod, of Brighton, have laboured industriously to
make the species intelligible: the discriminative remarks of
the former, and the figures of the last-named author, are most
praiseworthy. ‘lhe difficulty of the subject, however, is very
manifest, from the conflicting synonymy in Mr. Smith’s own
various papers. An unmistakable figure of the nest of this
wasp will be found on plate vi. of Dr. Ormerod’s ‘ British

212 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Social Wasps,’ and another on plate x. Mr. Eedle’s speci-
mens closely resemble the latter: they are attached to the
common ling and heather so firmly that it would be next to
impossible to remove them without injury. This species has
the abdomen distinctly banded with black and yellow. I
commonly find this species of wasp at the blossoms of the
figwort (Scrophularia aquatica), and, by a singular coincidence,
the Tenthredo Scrophulariz of Linneus, a species similarly
banded with black and yellow, and equally conspicuous, is
also confined to the same genus of plants, the larva feeding
on its leaves, the wasp on its nectar. Can the theory of
mimicry help us here? Turning to Mr. Smith’s ‘ Catalogue
of Fossores,’ I observe he says this wasp is very partial to
the flowers of Ballota nigra; a fact I have never noticed.—
Edward Newman.

H. J. H.—The hair-worm (Gordius aquaticus) is the adult,
and not the larval state, which is singularly unlike the speci-
men sent: it is very short, being described as 34, of an inch
in length. I cannot pretend to any knowledge of this from
personal observation. The female Gordius deposits her eggs
in the water in long strings. I have lately seen specimens of
this strange creature six inches in length, and not much
thicker than a horse-hair: indeed, country people have often
supposed, and asserted, these hair-worms to be horse-hairs,
which had fallen into the water, and so become animated.
When the rain came, after the late dry weather, I found these
Gordii on strawberry-leaves, currant-bushes, rose-bushes, &c.
very abundantly, tying themselves in most marvellous knots ;
and I have attempted in vain to explain that they did not
fall from the clouds.—Hdward Newman.

A. Hamilton.—In the ‘Entomologist’ (Entom. vii. 137)
I find mentioned the parasite of the owl, and having caught
a specimen this morning on a fern owl, I have great pleasure
in forwarding it to you: the shuffling disappearance of the
creature, remarked by your correspondent, describes its
movements accurately. As I shall most likely have many
opportunities of searching owls, I should like to know if you
would like the specimens in spirit, or as I have sent the
present one.—A. Hlamilton; 138, Park Street, Windsor,
August 18, 1874.

(The insect is Ornithomyia avicularia: it seems a very

nap ie ce

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 213

general bird-parasite. Any specimens of this Dipterous
parasite, sent like the present one, will always be.acceptable,
and very thankfully received.—EZ. Newman. |

W. J. Cope.—I enclose you an insect, which I shall be
glad if you will name. It was found to-day in a coal-mine
(Church Lane Colliery), near Barnsley, by a man called
Timothy Naylor. I suppose it must have come in the timber
used for props, which is foreign, and comes mostly from
Norway. It probably would be in either the pupa or larva
state. It settled on the neck of the man as he was knocking
out the timber that supports the roof of the workings. It was
injured in pulling it from his neck.—W. J. Cope; Barnsley,
August 21, 1874.

[The beetle is Acanthocinus edilis; one of the family of
longicorn or capricorn Coleoptera.—E.. Newman. ]

L. D, J—The minute animal attached to the butterfly,
Epinephele Janira, is an Acarus. I believe it is the same as
that found by the late Dr. Leach on the larger Tipulide, and
named by him, Ocypete rubra (Linnean Transactions, vol. xi.).
I cannot, however, feel certain of this, as it is very probable
different parasites are attached to different genera. My
knowledge of these minute Acari is very limited indeed.—
E. Newman.

A. H. Bright.—Can any of your readers inform me
whether A. Atropos appeared in England prior to the intro-
duction of the potato by Sir W. Raleigh.—d. H. Bright ;
Knotty Ash, Liverpool.

[It is scarcely probable that the occurrence would be
recorded before the moth had a published name, and, this
being so, I fear we cannot expect much information.—F.
Newman. |

W. Thomas.—The caterpillar is that of Acronycta Psi, the
dagger moth.— EH. Newman.

H. Jones.—The moth is Hadena dentina, the stone fly—
Phryganea grandis.—L. Newman.

Metal Drawers for Insect Cabinets.—Can you, or any of
your readers, tell me if any attempts have been made to
construct cabinet drawers of metal? Wood, however well
seasoned, being liable to shrink, is not a quite satisfactory
material. Some time ago I had a box made of tin: the edge
of the sides was bent over to hold an India-rubber tube,

214 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

against which a plain sheet of glass was pressed by clips;
this was quite air-tight, but cumbrous, and not suited for a
sliding drawer. It has since struck me that a very simple
drawer might be made with an India-rubber band fastened all
round the edge,—as in the tin tops made for jam-pots, which
would fold over the glass and make an air-tight junction. I
shall be much obliged for any suggestions.— W. C. Marshall ;
8, Spa Buildings, Cheltenham, August 22, 1874.

[ Practically I know nothing of the wood shrinking. I have
three cabinets, aged respectively forty, thirty, and twenty
years; neither has begun to shrink. If you pay a proper
price (twenty-one shillings per drawer,—they cannot be made
under), cabinets, I believe, never shrink. I do not write thus
to exclude suggestions, but to inform beginners who may wish
to avail themselves of my experience.—H. Newman. |

Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society
of London, July 6th, 1874.

Sir Sydney Smith Saunders, C.M.G., President, in the
chair.

Haltica erata— Walnut eaten by a Lepidopterous larva.
—Professor Westwood exhibited specimens of Haltica
(Batophila) erata, which he had found to be very injurious to
young rose-leaves. Also a portion of a walnut attacked by a
Lepidopterous larva, probably a Tortrix, but he was unable
to name the species, as it produced only an Ichneumon. It
was the first instance he had known of a walnut being
attacked by any insect in this country. Mr. M‘Lachlan
suggested that the larva might be that of Carpocapsa
splendana, a species which usually feeds on acorns; and
Mr. Moore stated that he had bred that species from a
walnut.

Yucca Moth.—Professor Westwood made some remarks on
the Yucca Moth (Pronuba Yuccasella, fizley), of which some
fifty specimens had been sent to him, in the pupa state, by
Mr. Riley; but he had only succeeded in rearing three of
them. He exhibited -a drawing of a portion of the insect,
showing the peculiar form of the palpi, which were specially
adapted for collecting the pollen, which it transferred to the

a

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 215

stigmatic surface as the insect passed from flower to Hower.
- He pointed out the great importance of the insect in the
economy of nature, as it appeared to be the only agent by
which the plant was rendered fertile. He directed attention
to a description of the insect and its habits by Mr. Riley, in
his ‘Sixth Annual Report of the Insects of Missouri.’

Black Hive Bees.—Professor Westwood also exhibited
some bees, which had been sent to him from Dublin, having
been found attacking the hives of the honey-bees. They
were smaller than the honey-bee, and black, and he con-
sidered them to be merely a degenerated variety of Apis
mellifica. He suggested the probability of their being
identical with the “black bees” mentioned by Hiiber.
Hiiber also had spoken of bees, which he called ‘‘ Captains,”
which were furnished with “ coronets” on their heads; but
he suspected that these coronets might have been merely
the pollen which the insects had collected.

Scotch Coleoptera.—Mr. Champion exhibited Amara alpina
and other beetles, taken at Aviemore, in Inverness-shire.

Turkey Carpet eaten by a Dipterons larva.a—Mr. Grut
exhibited larve, pupe, and imago, of a Dipterous insect,
which had been found, in the larva state, in an old Turkey
carpet. The larva was very long, slender, and serpentiform,
white and shining, and had somewhat the appearance of a
wireworm, only much longer, and without feet. Professor
Westwood thought it might belong to the genus Scenopinus.

Parasites of a Bat.—Mr. Bond exhibited some minute
parasites from a bat, probably identical with Argas Pipistrelle;
and also some Acari from a small species of fly: both were
from the Isle of Wight.

Variety of Thecla Rubi.—Mr. W. C. Boyd exhibited two
specimens of Thecla Rubi from St. Leonard’s Forest, differ-
ing from the ordinary type in having a pale spot in each fore
wing.

Ash-leaves affected by a Dipterous Insect.—Mr. W. Cole
exhibited leaves of ash affected by some small Dipterous
larve (probably Cecidomyia), which caused the two edges of
the leaflets to turn upwards and meet above, thus assuming a
pod-like form. They were from West Wickham Wood.

Macherium maritimum.—Mr. F. Smith exhibited some
earthen cocoons found in a salt marsh, at Weymouth, by

216 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Mr. Joshua Brown. They proved to belong to a Dipterous
insect (Macherium maritimum), one of the Dolichopide.
They were found lying on the wet, salt sand or mud, and
mostly fell to pieces when touched. [See p.207.—E. Newman.]

Agrotera nemoralis.—Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited specimens
of Agrotera nemoralis and other Lepidopterous insects from
Abbot’s Wood, Lewes.

Death of Mr. Alfred Owen.—It is with the deepest regret
I announce to the readers of the ‘ Entomologist’ the death of
my much-loved and valued friend, Alfred Owen. He died at
Llanfairfechan, North Wales, on the 31st of July last, aged
forty-two, after a few days illness, brought on through taking
cold, which ended in an attack of congestion of the lungs.
My acquaintance with him commenced about eight years ago,
through our mutual liking for Lepidoptera; and since then
we have passed weeks together at a time in the New Forest,
Hampshire, and other localities, in pursuit of this study.
Mr. Owen was in every sense of the word a thorough gentle-
man, an ardent lover of Natural History, and a most interesting
and well-informed companion. He leaves behind him a most
valuable collection of Lepidoptera, rich in varieties, in which
he took peculiar delight. The last month of his life was
passed at Lianfairfechan, with myself and family. He was
anxious that I should record the capture of Acidalia conti-
guaria, at Penmaenmawr, by my son Henry, and afterwards
both by himself and myself on the rocks between Penmaen-
mawr and Llanfairfechan. The locality of this insect I under-
stand has not been before discovered, and those who possess
specimens are indebted for them to my friend, Mr. Greening,
of Warrington, who was fortunate in rearing and keeping up
a breed from the eggs laid by a moth taken some years ago
at Bangor, which moth is in the cabinet of my late friend.
We also captured A. Ashworthii at the same spot, and
Cucullia Absinthii in the garden of the house where we
resided. ‘The intelligence of the death of Mr. Owen will, I
am sure, cause deep sorrow to many of your readers. As
regards myself, in him I have lost a friend and companion
such as can never be replaced.—Samuel James Capper ;
Huyton Park, Huyton, August 6, 1874.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

No. 134.] OCTOBER, MDCCCLXXIV. [Price 6d.

Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s
‘Die Mitteleuropaischen Eichengallen’ by Mrs. HuBERT
HERKOMER née WEISE.

16. Cynips hungarica.—This Fig. 16,
species produces a spherical,
rather hard yellowish brown
gall, thirteen to thirty-five
millemetres in diameter. Over
the whole surface are scattered
small conical excrescences:
these are generally short, and
either obtuse or slightly point-
ed; they are united by raised
keels, which are more or less
obtuse, and often rather in-
distinct. In some specimens
the excrescences are strongly
developed, while in others they
are very indistinct. A section
of the mature gall exhibits
a brown spongy parenchyma,
which has an irregular cavity
in the centre; the thin-walled
inner gall is seated there on
a stalk proceeding from the
reticulation. This, which is
the largest one-chambered gall
observed by me in the country
near Vienna and in Hungary,
occurs on Quercus pedunculata,
falls off in the autumn, and is Cyyirs nuncanica (and in section).

VOL. VII. 2F

218 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

pierced by the perfect insect in the ensuing spring. How-
ever, [ am not quite certain about this matter.—G. Z. Mayr.

Synergus melanopus, S. pallicornis, and Ceroptres arator,
are mentioned by Dr. Mayr as the inquilines of this gall;
they all appear in May, the second year.—Francis Walker.

17. Cynips tinctoria.—This_ species

Fig. 17. furnishes the Levantine ink-galls of com-
merce, but the galls we receive from
Turkey differ in size and colour from
those which grow in Central Europe.
The gall in this neighbourhood is very
much like small specimens of the last-
described gall. It is from ten to fifteen
millemetres in diameter, of a reddish brown
colour, bare, and beset with subglobular,
wart-like excrescences. It consists of a
dense reddish brown reticulation, and
grows together with the inner gall, which
is woody, of a light yellowish colour, and
well defined. It grows out of the axils of
a shrubby form of Quercus subsessiliflora

Gere oikceet cone @: pubescens. In the latter end of

and in section), autumn it is no longer firmly attached to

the branch; therefore a great number are
detached by the winter winds; nevertheless, some remain
on the twigs until the spring. The perfect insect emerges in
the spring.—G. L. Mayr.

Six species of Synergus are enumerated by Dr. Mayr as
the associates of Cynips tinctoria, S. melanopus, Reinhardti,
pallidipennis, Hayneanus, pallicornis, and vulgaris. The
three following appear in the second year:—S. Reinhardti in
June, 8. pallicornis in May, S. vulgaris in March. Dr.
Mayr mentions Callimome regius as the parasite of Cynips
tinctoria.— Francis Walker.

Sphinx Convolvuli at Maidenhead.—lIt may interest some
of your readers to learn that I took a fine male S. Convolvuli,
on the morning of the 9th of September, at Maidenhead. I
have never heard of one being
Harper ; Norfolk Road, Maidenhead, Berks, Se ep. 12, 1874.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 219

Notes on the Wing-bones of the Two-winged Flies.
By Francis WaLker, Esq.
(Continued from, p. 149.)

Bones. AREOLETS,
j Mediastinal. B_ Subcostal.
g Subcostal. J Mediastinal.
k Radial. K Radial.
ce Cubital. C’ Cubital, 1st.
c’ Cubital, 1st branch. C” Cubital, 2nd.
e’’ Cubital, 2nd branch. C’”Cubital, 3rd.
d’ Prebrachial, 1st branch. B’ Prebrachial,
d’”’ Prebrachial, 2nd branch. B” Pobrachial.
m Pobrachial, 1st branch. D’ Subapical, Ist.
y Pobrachial, 2nd branch. D” Subapical, 2nd.
v Anal. i Anal.
w Subaxillary. V_ Subanal.

I Discal.

Fig. 37.—Leptis.

Fig. 38.—Bombylius medius.

Fig. 39.—Toxophora.

220 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Fig. 40.—Nemestrina.

THE Tabanide and Asilide are distinguished by their
powerful flight, and the Bombylide (figs. 38, 39) are remark-
able on account of their extreme quickness on the wing. In
fig. 88 the first branch of the prabrachial bone joins the
second branch of the cubital, and thereby the subapical
areolet is closed far from the border of the wing. There is an

DP ete al at

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 232]

externo-medial bone in fig. 38, between the second branch of
the prebrachial and the first branch of the pobrachial. In
fig. 39 the subapical areolet is open, and the externo-medial
bone, noticed in fig. 38, does not extend to the border, but closes
the discal areolet at some distance from the border. In this
figure there are three cubital areolets connected by means of a
short additional transverse bone, and the mediastinal bone is
apparent, so also the mediastinal areolet. In fig. 40 there is
an extraordinary multiplication of bones, so that the wing has
a dragonfly-wing appearance. The family represented in this
figure has its highest development in South Africa, and several
species of it occur in Central Asia, and among its relations it
is especially suggestive of heat and of dryness of soil. In
passing from fig. 40 to fig. 41 there is a transition from the
greatest activity to the greatest inactivity of flight in the
Diptera. The structure of the wing-bones is comparatively
simple in fig. 41, yet not more so than in many genera whose
flight is strong. Im fig. 42 there is a great change in wing-
bone structure: some of the bones are curved forward, the
cubital bones do not extend to the border, the discal areolet
is very long, and has behind it the second pobrachial areolet;
the first and second cubital areolets are closed. ‘The family
Bombylide are well known by the great variety of structure
of their wing-bones, and by the elegance of the markings in
the bodies and in the wings. In some other more extensive
families there is a comparative sameness of wing-structure,
and consequently less variety of flight.

There is much interest in observing the very numerous
modes of flight in the Diptera, and in comparing them with
the differences of wing-structure by which they are occasioned.
When the flight is most quick or powerful there are generally
mapy Wing-bones, but in some cases there is much strength
of wing with few bones, and much weakness of the same
when the bones are numerous. The bones are subservient to
the muscles at the base of the wing and to the structure of
the body, and all these are secondary to the electric currents,
which, when active by heat, are the means of flight, the wing-
bones being as conductors to them.

FRANCIS WALKER.

222 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Our Common Wasps. By Henry Reeks, Esq., F.L.S.

THERE are four species of wasps, besides the hornet
(V. Crabro), which I presume are very common, and gene-
rally distributed throughout the British Isles, namely, Vespa
rufa, V. germanica, V. sylvestris, and V. vulgaris. Of these
V. sylvestris is the connecting link between the ground-
building and the tree-building wasps, as it does not confine
itself particularly to either situation, although it is more
frequently found building under the thatch, or tiles of walls,
outhouses, &c.

I quite agree with you in advising your readers (Entom.
vil. 211), where practicable, to take the whole nest, and
examine and pin out at least a good series of the inmates:
this is certainly advisable, and absolutely necessary with new
or little-known species; but with the above-mentioned
common species there cannot-be much confusion,—unless
books tend to make such confusion,—for they are so very
distinctively marked, that when once known they can
scarcely ever be mistaken again. I have no work on wasps,
nor any specimens by me for scientific comparison, but I
trust the following general remarks will enable most of your
readers to recognize at a glance the common forms mentioned
above :— .

V. rufa has a black anchor-shaped mark down the middle
of the face, without a dot on either side of the lower end of
the mark. The abdomen is banded, as usual, black and
yellow, with a dash of rufous on the Ist and 2nd segments,
but most plainly on the 2nd. The black bands are very
narrow, with a tongue-like mark of the same colour beneath
and joined to each band, and with a conspicuous black dot
on each side of the tongue-like projection. This species is
the smallest of the four here mentioned, and builds its nest
under ground, using sound wood for its construction, and
working until very late in the autumn, even to the beginning
of November.

The species most resembling V. rufa is V. germanica, but
this is easily distinguished by its never having a perfectly-
formed anchor-shaped mark on the face, and also by always
- lacking the rufous markings on the Ist and 2nd segments of
the abdomen. The face of V. germanica is most commonly

ee

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. P43.

marked with a black line, and with a dot on either side of it
(thus .|.), but occasionally the line is wanting, and replaced
by a third dot (thus .*.); otherwise the insects are much
alike, in habits as well as appearance: both build under-
ground, use sound wood, and work on until late in the fall.
Both species may now be taken in abundance at out- door
grapes, pears, fallen apples, &c., as well as in grocers’ shops,
and windows generally.

V. sylvestris has a clear yellow face, with one minute
central black dot scarcely larger than the point of a pin, and
in some specimens scarcely visible at all. The bands of
black and yellow on the abdomen are of nearly equal width
throughout, and wanting the tongue-hke projections so
observable in V. rufa and V. germanica, but the two small
black dots in each yellow band are generally present,
especially on the first three segments of the abdomen nearest
the thorax. This species is therefore best known by its clear
yellow face. It builds, as stated above, occasionally under-
ground, but generally suspended from trees, roofs, &c., and
uses sound wood; but the nests are deserted, and the males
and workers dead, by the middle or latter end of August, so
that the species could not be found now unless a queen were
disturbed from her hybernaculum.

V. vulgaris very closely resembles V. sylvestris in the
markings on the abdomen, but may always and easily be
distinguished from that species by its well-defined anchor-
shaped mark on the face. It builds its nest of rotten wood
generally under-ground, but sometimes in hollow trees or in
thatch, but never suspends it in the open air. The males and
workers are never seen after August.

To sum up, V. vulgaris and V. sylvestris have the bands on
the abdomen resembling each other, but the faces very
different. V. vulgaris and V. rufa have both well- defined
anchor-shaped marks on the face, but the abdomens are
very differently banded. V. germanica and V. sylvestris
occasionally approach each other in the markings of the
face, but the markings on the abdomen will at all times
distinguish them.

I would therefore advise your readers to collect a few
specimens of V. germanica and V, rufa this autumn, before
the males and workers die off; and next summer they may
probably obtain V. sylvestris and Y. vulgaris.

224 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Of V. norvegica and V. arborea I know nothing practically,
except that I met with the former, I believe, in Newfound-
land.

Henry REEKs.
Thruxton, September 8, 1874.

Entomological Notes, Captures, &c.

Captures at or near Eastbourne during the latter part of
July.—Sesia chrysidiformis, one; worn. Spilodes palealis,
about twenty; many much worn. Stenia punctalis perfectly
swarmed the first day I was out (July 16th), and in good
condition ; but having only a few boxes, which I was reserving
in the hopes of meeting with more Chrysidiformis, I only
took some half a dozen; and when I[ went again about a
week afterwards, during which it had been rather windy
weather, I could only find a few very worn examples. The
same remarks apply precisely to Xanthosetia Zoegana,
Cochylis Francillana, and C. Dilucidana. I also took speci-
mens of Lithosia complana, L. griseola, Pyrausta punicealis,
P. purpuralis, Odontia dentalis, Endotricha flammealis, Cata-
clysta lemnalis (swarming), Botys fuscalis, B. asinalis,
Spilodes cinctalis, S. sticticalis, Pionea stramentalis, Scopula
ferrugalis, S. olivalis, Bryophila glandifera (commonly),
Ephyra porata, E. pendularia, E. omicronaria, and Acidalia
trigeminata. I never saw Lycena Corydon in such abundance,
whereas of L. Adonis, which I have before found plentifully
there, I did not see a specimen.—Geo. P. Shearwood ; Cedar
Lodge, Stockwell, S.W., September 6, 1874.

The Butterflies of Dry Drayton.—\ am sure all those who
take an interest in our British butterflies will duly esteem the
valuable observations published by the Rev. F. A. Walker ;
and it is much to be wished that entomologists who are
resident in country districts would follow this good example,
and tabulate each season the times of appearance of such
butterflies as come under their observation,—no difficult
-matter, as few have in any district more than fifty of our
species. Such chronicles will not only add to our entomolo-
gical lore, but throw light on the connexion between weather
phenomena and insect life. If there is an omission in the

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THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 295

paper on the butterflies of Dry Drayton, it is that of
information as to the nature of the district, how much of the
land is cultivated or pasture, &c., the prevalence or absence
of wind, the elevation, soil, and the character of the Flora.
Should similar papers be hereafter prepared, some brief
particulars of that kind would be acceptable—J. R. 8.
Clifford.

Vanessa Antiopa near Newcastle-—Vanessa Antiopa has
been seen, but not captured, by the person to whom I am
indebted for the specimen I possess. It appeared on the 11th
of September, within a few yards of the spot—in Jesmond
Dene, near Newcastle—where he made the capture two years
ago; willows abound in the neighbourhood.—W. Maling ;
22, Jesmond Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne, September 17, 1874.

Argynnis Niobe in Kent.—Your correspondent, Mr. Wigan, |
thought it necessary, I presume in his own defence, to indicate
the locality, though not with precision, where he took this
butterfly ; still, itis to be regretted that the result will be a
hunting-up of the spot, and a hunting-down of the luckless
A. Niobe, which is likely to have a short history, though an
interesting one, as a British species; for though ravines or
hollows, such as the one described, occur in other parts of
Kent, the insect is so closely connected with the wild
heart’s-ease that it is not probable we shall find it where that
plant does not grow pretty freely; and, as far as I have
observed, it does not appear to be common in the county.
However, I will venture to express a hope that the next
captor of A. Niobe will keep the exact spot a profound
secret; for as Carlyle observes :—“ He who has a secret must
not only hide it, but he must hide that he has it to hide.”—
J. R. S. Clifford.

Postscript, September 19th.—Some entomologists are
much “exercised in spirit,” as the old authors used to
say, over the recent capture of this butterfly in Kent, and
seem to fancy there is still a loophole for doubt. I would
suggest an easy settlement of the question. , It may be
premised that the captures made this year in the place
named could not have exterminated the species, as it had,
according to the account published, been on the wing some
time. There must, therefore, be larve in the locality, and
within a limited range of the spot where the imagos were

2G

226 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

taken. If the gentlemen who have made acquaintance with
Argynnis Niobe will associate with themselves one or two
entomologists of known skill in larva-hunting, and, without
indicating the precise position of the valley or hollow between
Wye and Ashford to the entomological world generally,
arrange to make a careful united search for the larve of
A. Niobe during the spring, we may possibly get a result
conclusive enough to satisfy all sceptics.—J. R. S. Clifford.
[1 think Mr. Clifford can never have hunted for the larve of
Aglaia or of Adippe, or he would scarcely have proposed so
hopeless a task as seeking for those of Niobe.—H. Newman.]
Food-plant of Orgyia gonostigma.—May I venture to
remind my friendly correspondent, Mr. Robinson, of the old
saying, that “latet dolus in generalibus.” Had I been
disposed to generalise a short time ago, with reference to the
food-plant of the species cited, I should have said, speaking
of it from a knowledge of its habits in the Wimbledon
locality, that probably its proper food-plant was oak, though
it might occasionally be found on the hazel in summer, and
on sallow in spring. I know that in confinement Wimbledon
larve take oak by preference. Now, at Coventry, O. gono-
stigma chooses, as Mr. Robinson finds, blackthorn and
whitethorn, preferring the latter. And my friend, Mr. Barrett,
of the South London Entomological Society, who was
acquainted with the Doncaster locality, tells me that there
the larve were taken on the whitethorn. Were the species
to become more common with us, we might discover that—
like its near relative, O. antiqua—this is inclined to be a
general feeder. The apparent difficulty in the way of its
increase in England is the peculiarity of its life-history; the
hybernation, which carries it through the cold months,
endangering the lives of many of the larve, as they seem to
protect themselves very slightly. As most breeders know, by
a little management, the larve of O. gonostigma may be got
to feed up the same year in which they are hatched; but I
have been pursuing an investigation of some slight interest,
namely, to ascertain if, at any point we please during the
larval growth, we can, by placing them in a lower temperature
and withdrawing the food, induce individuals to become
torpid. Though hardly able to say as yet that my experiments
are conclusive, so far as they have gone they would show

alte

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. pe

that, after the last ecdysis is passed, the larve must then
either attain maturity in the autumn, or, if not allowed to do
that, they will die off. J should much like to be informed
what reasons subsist in proof of the theory, propounded by
the old naturalists, that the female of O. gonostigma, like
that of Liparis auriflua and other species, clothes her eggs
with down, because the scorching rays of the sun might
prove injurious to them.—J. R. S. Clifford.

Food-plant of Orgyia gonostigma.—In the last number of
the ‘Entomologist, Mr. H. Robinson, of Coventry, kindly
gives us other food-plants on which the larve of O. gono-
stigma will feed, namely, blackthorn and whitethorn; but I do
not see how he can state that oak as a food for this larva is a
mistake : we bave always found it feed more freely on this than
anything else. This season I have been very successful in getting
all the larve of this species, that I had from eggs deposited
by the first brood, into the imago state (unfortunately small
specimens). These larve I supplied with oak and sallow,
and I found that they fed very little on the former, while any
of the latter was to be obtained. I certainly think that my
success in getting all my larve to change into pupz was on
account of giving them a constant supply of fresh sallow. On
one occasion | placed a few young larve of Gonostigma in
a jar, with some other larve I had feeding on beech, and was
not a little surprised to find that they ate this rather freely.
I certainly, therefore, think that the larva of Gonostigma is,
like that of Antiqua, a universal feeder.—J. 2. Wellman ;
14, Portland Place North, Clapham Road, S.W., September
23, 1874.

Do some of the Larve of Saturnia Carpini Hybernate 2—
Has it before been noticed that some of the larve of Saturnia
Carpini apparently hybernate? In June I took a young
brood, newly emerged, on the top of a little tuft of heather.
They gradually came to grief, one way or another, all but two.
Of these one is now full fed, and thinking about making its
cocoon; the other is only about eleven lines long, and very small
altogether: it has remained this size, and in the penultimate
stage of colouring (yellowish green, and black markings), for
the last five weeks; yet it eats, and seems quite healthy.—
W.D. Robinson-Douglas ; Orchardton, Castle Douglas, N. B.,
Seplember 3, 1874.

228 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Leucania albipuncta and Catocala Fraxini at Folkestone.
—This year I have again had the pleasure of taking
L. albipuncta at Folkestone, namely, single specimens on
the lst and 2nd of September respectively. I also had the
unexpected good fortune of capturing at Folkestone, on the
5th of September, a worn example of C. Fraxini.—Charles
Oldham ; Newton House, Amhurst Road, Hackney, Sep-
tember 21, 1874.

Is not Dianthecia Capsincola Double-brooded ?—1 took
fresh specimens of D. Capsincola last May, and bred a long
series last month from larve collected during July. IT am
taking the larve again now. Only one brood is mentioned—
the August one—in Newman’s ‘ British Moths,—J. A. Lilly ;
‘Paignton, September 19, 1874.

Epunda nigra and Noctua glareosa at Sherwood Forest.—
On the 27th of August I took a fine specimen of E. nigra
at sugar: I took it when the moths were swarming, just after
(or rather during) a thunder-shower. On the 7th of Septem-
ber I took Noctua glareosa in profusion on the heather:
a friend was with me, and for several succeeding nights we
found their numbers, to all appearances, undiminished.—
S. L. Mosley; Edwinstowe, September 12, 1874.

Noctua sobrina and Pachnobia alpina.—In your notice of
these moths from me in last month’s ‘ Entomologist,’ you say,
at the head of each, “In Rannoch.” That is an error, as
neither species were taken in Rannoch, but both in Breadal-
bane, much to the south of Rannoch, where I did some
successful collecting.—John T. Carrington.

Notes on Trichiura Crategi.—The information we gain
from books on the economy of this species is somewhat
meagre and unsatisfactory, and it is probably owing to this
that we find many cabinets without this insect. As far as
my experience and information go, this species seems to
occur pretty generally throughout the south-eastern counties
of England. The moth leaves the pupal state from the 20th
of August to the middle of September: it seems to emerge
invariably between five and seven in the evening ; the females
remain almost motionless, but the males dash about excitedly
for an hour or so between six and seven in the evening.
They have, doubtless, a second flight in the small hours of
the morning, though I cannot vouch for this. It is, however,

es

Pi

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 229

more than probable, from the fact that copulation does not
take place till after midnight. The moths remain paired till
five o’clock in the morning, a circumstance the most remark-
able from the fact that the (British) species most closely
allied to this remain in copulation but a very short time.
The female does not begin to lay till the next day. The
number of eggs deposited varies between one and two hundred:
they are of a pale brown tint, thickly covered with dark-
coloured down. The eggs hatch in the succeeding spring;
some in my possession hatched this year, on March 24th.
The larve feed on both whitethorn and blackthorn, but seem to
prefer the former in a state of nature: they are generally full
fed from the 10th to the 20th of June, when they may be
found on the road-side hedges in company with Neustria, &c.
The larve are very variable, and strikingly handsome. The
cocoon of this species is composed of fine particles of earth,
and is lined inside with a coating of white silk : it is very com-
pact, resembling closely that of Pecilocampa Populi.—G. H.
Raynor ; Hazeleigh Rectory, Maldon, Essex, Sept. 12, 1874.

Life-history of Ligdia adustata.—The eggs were laid during
the third week in July ; the caterpillars were hatched on the Ist
of August. When full grown they usually rest in a straight
position along the stem of their food-plant, Euonymus Euro-
pzus (common spindle tree), to which they have a marked
resemblance in colour. ‘The head is slightly larger than the
2nd segment; the face almost white, mottled with reddish
brown, and surrounded by a band of very dark brown, which
becomes lighter in shade as it approaches the 2nd segment;
on each side of the head, in a line with the spiracles and
adjoining the 2nd segment, is a patch of very dark brown.
The 2nd segment is smaller than the 3rd, and the 3rd smaller
than the 4th, from which to the llth the body of the cater-
pillar is of uniform size, and then decreases. On the anterior
dorsal area of the 5th, 6th and 7th segments there is a small
square brown patch, edged on both sides with white; this
marking occurs again, but very indistinctly, on the 10th
segment. The sides of the 5th and 6th segments are
ornamented with an irregularly-shaped patch of various
shades of brown, interspersed with small white marks. The
legs are brown; the first pair of claspers, together with the
skin-fold above them, are also brown, the latter variegated

230 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

slightly with white; the anal flap and second pair of claspers
are tinged with the same colour. The spiracles, which are
very indistinct, are white, edged with brown. The caterpillars
descended to the earth about the 25th of August, and spun a
slight cocoon just below the surface.—[Rev.| P. H. Jennings ;
11, Maison Dieu Road, Dover, September 7, 1874.
Life-history of Cidaria picata.a—The eggs were laid in
confinement, singly, on the leaves and stems of Alsine media
(common chickweed), the last week in July. The young
caterpillars were hatched on the 9th of August, and moulted
three times, abont the 16th, 23rd and 80th of the same month.
When at rest they lie extended on the stem of the food-
plant, and when disturbed assume the form of an Ionic
volute. The body is nearly uniformly cylindrical throughout
its length, slightly increasing towards the extremities. The
head and face are of a light yellowish brown, marked with
spots and short lines of a deeper shade. The colour of the
back between the spiracles varies in different individuals from
pale olive-green to reddish brown. ‘he whole of this space
is of two shades, the lighter represented by very irregular
lines, at one time confluent and then separate, with very
irregular edges. There is a black patch in the middle of the
7th, 8th and 9th segments: this becomes less distinct as the
caterpillar increases in size, and in some cases altogether
disappears. The sides below the spiracles and the ventral
space are of a lighter shade than the back, the line of

demarcation being well defined. ‘The whole of this portion—

bears a considerable resemblance to the back, as far as the
markings are concerned, being made up of very irregular
lines of alternate lighter and darker shades. The legs and
claspers are of the lighter shade. At the sides of the junctures
of the segments there are spots of a much darker colour.
The spiracles are black. The caterpillars disappeared about
the end of the first week in September, making a slight
cocoon on the surface of the earth, and changing to a
chrysalis of a light reddish brown.—d.

Cidaria picata Double-brooded in Conjfinement.— During
the second week in this month (September) I had a few
imagos of this insect emerge from the pupz of a brood which
fed up about the middle of August.—Jd.

The Food of Arctia Menthastri.—1 have seen larve of this

i

)

\

i

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 231

species on the currant-bushes in gardens, and often on the
common lilac. It is not by any means restricted in its food
to low plants; and hardly an entomologist has not, at some
time or other, beaten it from the sloe or oak in the course of
his researches. Young individuals of A. Caja will sometimes
feed on various bushes in gardens during the autumn, taking
to the low plants in the early spring. The individuals noted
by Mr. Wittich may belong to the latter species.—J. R. S.
Clifford.

Eupithecia Pygmeata.—On the 23rd of August I took a
fine specimen of this insect at Witherslack. I also took it
flying along with Grapholita obtusana the last week in May,
which is the usual time of its appearance im this district. It
seems quite strange to see the Helianthemum in full flower
again, as well as the wild thyme: the hot weather soon
burnt them up on the limestone, and since the rain has come
on all seems fresh again. ‘There were very few insects:
Argyresthia spiniella, Coriscium cuculipennella, Gelechia
similella, Laverna miscella, were among the best species I
saw. The intense heat has quite killed lots of plants: I
could not see a single gentian for Asychna profugella to feed
on.—J. B. Hodgkinson; 15, Spring Bank, Preston, Sep-
tember 6, 1874.

Bombus Lucorum.—One evening last week, being on Shirley
Common mothing, at about 11.30 p.m., [ netted what seemed
to be, by the light of the lantern, a moth hovering over the
flowers of the bramble. On examining my captive more
closely I found, to my surprise, that it was not a moth, but a
humble-bee (Bombus Lucorum). Can any of your readers say
whether it is usual for these insects to fly by night? I never
before remember to have seen, or heard of such a habit.— W.
A. Forbes; West Wickham, Kent, September 11, 1874.

Death from the Sting of a Hornet.—You certainly have
some entomological readers in the neighbourhood of Reading.
Could you not get them to investigate this case more thoroughly ?
Not that I think it at all improbable that a nervous, excitable
person may die through the sting of a hornet, wasp, or bee;
in fact, if lremember rightly, the Hon. Grantley F. Berkeley,

' some few years ago, recorded in the ‘ Field’ newspaper the
go,

death of an old man from the sting of a bee. ‘This occurred
\in the garden of Mr. Lovegrove, Waldron, near Lambourne,

232 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Berks,—I think. What I want to know is this,—Was it a
hornet or a wasp? I ask this because I never yet saw a
hornet’s nest in the ground, and never heard of an authentic
instance of one being found in that situation. But then, on
the other hand, I have never resided anywhere where hornets
may be said to be very common; still I have known of some
dozen nests within a radius of two miles, but none of them were
in or very near the ground, but in roofs of cottages, outhouses,
and in hollow trees; and these are decidedly the favourite
resorts. Perhaps, however, Mr. F. Smith, or some other
Hymenopterist, will kindly say if lam wrong. Anyone would
think that even a child, who had once had a hornet shown
him, could never again confound it with a wasp, or vice versa ;
but you would be surprised at the ignorance, in this matter,
of many well-informed persons, who certainly ought to know
a wasp from a hornet, there being quite as much difference in
size as between a hive-bee and a humble-bee (Bombus
terrestris). Some years ago my friend the late Mr. S.
Stone, wrote to me to find out some hornets’-nests, and I
made several inquiries for him in the neighbourhood. One
intelligent(?) keeper said that he did not then know of a
hornet’s-nest, but he had seen dozens of them in previous
years; and he perfectly remembered one very strong colony,
that attacked everyone who passed near the nest, which, he
said, was suspended from the under side of a fir-bough.
This statement at once floored all my previous faith in his
tales of hornets, their nests and stings; and he likewise told
me that on another occasion one crawled into his boot and
stung his foot. That the hornet could raise a colony from a
nest suspended in the open air is a simple impossibility ; the
first rough wind would blow its frail, but beautiful nest,
constructed of rotten wood, to atoms. Even when taken for
the cabinet it requires most careful handling, or it will
crumble to pieces in the hand with only a very slight
pressure. The sting of a bee or wasp has not the slightest
effect on me, and yet I have a dread of being stung; but my
youngest brother—who is very fond of bees, and can do
almost anything with them—suffers severely if one stings
him, causing him to turn purple all over, and with a dangerous
swelling of the tongue; and yet the sting of a wasp has no ill

effect upon him whatever.—Henry Reeks; Thruxton, Sep- —

tember 7, 1874.

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THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 233

Argynnis Lathonia at Broadstairs.—I sent you Lathonia
in great haste on Saturday evening, and may I beg your
acceptance of it. I have taken five near Broadstairs, all in
one field, between St. Peter's and Broadstairs. I took one
three weeks ago in the same spot, which I sent to the Rev.
P. H. Jennings, of Longfield Rectory. I do not know how
they will travel, but they were all in good condition when
caught—_W. Wigan; Wincheap, Canterbury, September
18, 1874.

fMr. Wigan has my sincere thanks for this valuable
present: it arrived in the finest state of health and activity.
I trust that notice of any other captures of this butterfly will
be sent as soon as made.— LH. Newman. |

Smerinthus ocellatus emerging in September.—I had the
larve of S. ocellatus feeding on apple through July: one
turned to a pupa on the 3lst July, and scarcely buried itself;
it could be seen just under the surface of the earth, and came
out on the Ist of September quite perfect, and the colours
very clear and rich; a male, but certainly smaller than
usual. Is it not an uncommon occurrence? I ought to
have said that the cage was kept in a room with windows
looking to the north and east, and the cage quite away from
any sunlight—AH. C. Hodges; The Cottage, Walton-at-
Stone, near Hertford, September 12, 1874.

[This is unusual, but I have known other instances.—
E. Newman. |

The Plague of Ants.—Since so much has been written in
the newspapers lately concerning the so-termed “ plague of
ants,” perhaps the following may be of some interest :—When
travelling from Plymouth to Falmouth a gentleman mentioned
in the course of conversation that a remarkable incident had
occurred to some friends of his, on the 20th of August last,
when cruising in their yacht off the Longships Lighthouse, on
the coast of Cornwall, about seven or eight miles from Fal-
mouth. They said that they had sailed through millions upon
millions of winged ants, and that the sea was for a long
distance black with them; indeed, that they amused them-
selves for along time in dipping them up in buckets, and
that the waves that the vessel threw off from her bow in
dividing the water were black instead of white. The
following I copied from a Plymouth newspaper:—“ The Ant

2H

934 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Invaston.—The ant invasion, described by so many, was
observed in the north of Cornwall on Wednesday. Driving
with my family and some friends to Redruthan on that day,
we were surprised by a sudden gust of wind, bringing with it
an immense swarm of winged ants, too many of which, for
our comfort, located themselves upon us, and it was no easy
task to get rid of them. Upon our arrival at Redruthan we
found a large portion of the sand darkened with dead ants,
evidently drowned; each receding wave left a wide mark
along the beach.”—J. Gatcombe; Stonehouse, September
5, 1874.

[lL have described in my ‘Familiar Introduction’ how the
male and female emerge from the pupa state at the end of
August, furnished with wings. A report of this “extraordinary
occurrence” and “unheard-of phenomenon” appears annually
in our newspapers, just before the autumnal equinox.—H#.
Newman. |

Correction of an E'rror.—I am sorry to say that I was
wrong in saying the galls, mentioned by me in the July
number (Entom. vii. 165), were those of Cynips lignicola. A
day or two after I sent you the notice the perfect insects
emerged, thus showing that the gall had arrived at maturity.
This gall, of which I enclose specimens, was very abundant
on some oaks, near Edinboro’, during the past summer.
When fresh it is soft, succulent, of a green colour tinged with
pink, and, unlike other galls, was by no means unpleasant to
the taste. Can you tell me the name of its maker‘-—W. A.

Forbes.

Answers to Correspondents.

Miss L* **** ; Pollen Masses of Orchids.—The “ strange-
looking objects” attached to the “tongue” (more properly
maxillz) of a moth are neither Fungi nor Acari, but masses of
pollen from the blossom of some Orchid. These curious objects
‘have frequently puzzled me in my early collecting days;
but on one occasion in Birch Wood, being in company with
the late William Christy, that accomplished botanist explained
the seeming mystery. Long after this, and indeed until I read
an abstract of Mr. Darwin’s really wonderful observations, L
had formed no conception of the meaning of this phenomenon.
However, since the publication of his book, ‘On the various

e- wb ~ “

OM Bets ee

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 235

contrivances by which British and Foreign Orchids are ferti-
lized by Insects,’ | have given a good deal of attention to the
subject, and examined a great number of insects whose
mouths have been thus encumbered, and hope before long to
print rather a long paper on fertilizing insects in the
*Zoologist, as there certainly is not space enough for it in
the ‘Entomologist.’ In the meantime I may give a few
particulars here, leaving the general subject for a future
paper. It appears from Darwin’s work that scarcely any
flower possesses the power of fertilizing itself; probably it
will hereafter be shown that no flower or species has this
power in perpetuity; but this subject need not be discussed
here. It will be sufficient to explain that in Orchids there
are but two stamens, and each of these contain one pollen-
mass, or pollinium, as it is called by Darwin. The moths,
attracted by the sweet scent of the flowers, and being thereby
apprised of the nectar-banquet contained in the flower, often
crowd around it, and, in their eagerness to get at the sweets,
press their heads against the stamens, and thus the cuticle of
the anther probably gets ruptured by the pressure, and the
pollinium then comes out of its retreat, and being furnished
at the lower extremity with a circular adhesive disk,—very
much like those round pieces of wetted leather which boys
play with on the flag-stones of our pavements,—these disks
attach themselves to the head, eyes, or mouth of the moth,
and, thus fixed, they project like little clubs, and are carried
to another flower, to which the moth flies as soon as it has
rifled the sweets of the first, and to this second flower it
imparts the pollen it had taken from the first. The bright
colours of flowers are given them to attract butterflies, bees,
and flies, by day; the sweet scents of flowers are given them
to attract moths by night: and, as though conscious of this
duty, a great number of flowers—such for instance as the
“night-flowering stock,” the “ night-flowering Cereus,” the
“night-smelling evening-primrose,” &c.—only emit their
fragrance when moths are on the wing. This is the case
with Orchids,—those which have large, bright and beautiful,
scarlet and yellow and purple flowers, and no scent—attract
day-flying insects; those which have minute, and green or
dull-coloured flowers have no beauty, but are almost invariably
sweet-scented, and thus attract those moths which fly by
night. Mr. Darwin has mentioned a specimen of Caradrina

236 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

that had eleven pairs of these pollinia attached to its maxilla,
and another of Acontia luctuosa that had seven pairs; each
blossom possesses a pair, but they are frequently robbed of
only one. I shall be very pleased to give any further
information on this most interesting subject.— LE. Newman.

PF. W. White-—I shall feel much obliged by your
kindly naming the accompanying larve, which were found
feeding on pear-trees in a friend’s garden at Cainscross.
He also noticed them both last year and this. It appears
that they become of a green colour after their last moult,
and then pass into the ground to undergo their trans-
formation.

[The insect produced from the grub is a sawfly, Blenno-
campa Cerasi.—L. Newman.]

Rev. John A. Kerr; Belfast.—The insect sent is Necro-
phorus interruptus, one of the burying-beetles.—E. Newman.

G. A. S—The facts are interesting, but I cannot publish
them anonymously. The mites are still alive, and apparently
healthy. I cannot distinguish them from the so-called Acarus
domesticus, which occurs in all our houses. It is very extra-
ordinary that it should occur on living moths.—E. Newman.

W. Claxton.—Would you be kind enough to inform
me whether it is necessary to remove the interior of beetles
before placing them in the cabinet?

[I have never done anything of the kind. I place the
drying-cage in the thorough draught, and do not find any
inconvenience arise from the smell.—#. Newman. |

Haggerston Entomological Society—The annual exhi-
bition of this Society will be held in their room at the
“ Brownlow Arms,” Brownlow Street, Haggerston, on the
evenings of Thursday and Friday, November 12th and 138th,
from 7 to ll p.m. All entomological friends are invited to
attend; and any entomologists wishing to exhibit will kindly
send their exhibitions on or before Thursday evening,
November 5th, to the Secretary, Mr. Bartlett, at the above
address.

Death of Mr. Crotch.—George Robert Crotch, a Coleop-
terist of great eminence, and still greater promise, died at
Philadelphia on the 16th of June of the present year,
apparently in the very zenith of an undertaking, which—in

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 237

its ambitious programme, and the known zeal, perseverance,
and energy, of its projector—perhaps has no equal in the
annals of entomological Science. Mr. Crotch was the grand-
son of Dr. Crotch, so celebrated as a musical composer ; the
son of the Rev. Mr. Crotch, of Uphill House, Weston-super-
Mare; and the brother of Dr. W. D. Crotch, who has attained a
European celebrity by his labours in Natural History, more
especially in Coleopterous insects, of which he discovered
numerous new species,—forty-four in the Island of Canary
alone,—as recorded by Mr. Wollaston in his ‘ Catalogue of
the Coleopterous Insects of the Canaries,’ published in 1864.
Mr. G. R. Crotch was born in the year 184], and very early
exhibited the characteristics which so eminently distin-
guished him in after life: indefatigable industry in pursuit
of a beloved Science, and perfect disregard of his own
personal comfort, and even health. These attributes were so
remarkable as to take the form of an eccentricity,—meat,
drink, and rest, seemed to him matters of indifference: if
night found him on what he considered good collecting
ground, rather than leave it, with the intention of returning
on the morrow, he has been known to lie down under the
shelter of a hay-stack or sedge-stack in the fens, and there
remain, until the return of daylight enabled him to resume
his labours. This devotion to Entomology continued and
increased, until it became the absorbing passion and occu-
pation of his life. At first he seems to have given his
attention more especially to British Lepidoptera; and his
first contribution to entomological literature was on a butter-
fly, generally esteemed of rare or accidental occurrence,
Thecla Betula, which he observed in great abundance flying
round the tops of high trees in company with its congener
T. Quercus. This was in 1856, and three years later he
searched the fen districts of Cambridgeshire: here he dis-
covered Leucania Elymi; and here, too, he gave the first
instance of that perseverance, skill, and thoroughness, in
collecting Coleoptera, which subsequently became his dis-
uinguishing characteristic.

In 1862 he published his first notice of ants’-nest beetles,
and from that time he seems to have given no rest to his
hands, to his pen, or to his mind.

In 1863 he published the first edition of ‘ Catalogue of

238 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

British Coleoptera,’ a labour which at once exhibited him as
a most careful and_judicious compiler: yet he was never
satisfied with this production, but was constantly finding
something that required emendation and improvement, which
he introduced ina second edition, published soon afterwards,
but without date.

This appears the right place to introduce, in chronological
order, a list of the papers sent to myself, during a period of
fourteen years (1856—1870), for publication in the ‘ Zoologist’
and ‘ Entomologist.’ The list speaks for itself, and shows
what an extensive range was covered by his researches. The
papers themselves exhibit, at the same time, what has been
been aptly termed, “a lynxian eye for specific differences,”
and a wonderful aptitude for expressing those differences in
words,—a gift of excessive value, in proportion to the rarity
of its occurrence.

In THE ‘ZOOLOGIST.’

1856. Extraordinary Abundance of Thecla Betule in Montgo-
meryshire, p. 5291.

1859. Is Micra parva Double-brooded? 6385.

1861. Leucania Elymi in England, 7717. Capture of Spherius
acaroides, Hydrochus carinatus, &e., in the Fens, 7724.

1862. Notice of Two Species of Coleoptera New to Britain, 8083.
Coleoptera found in Company with Formica fuliginosa, 8139.
Coleoptera in the New Forest, 8301.

1863. Cryptocephalus Wasastjerne discovered in Britain, 8413.
The British Species of Helophorus, 8610.

1864. On some New or Rare British Coleoptera, 8998. Adden-
dum to the paper On some New or Rare British Coleoptera, 9057.

In THE ‘ ENTOMOLOGIST.’

1864—5. Revision of the Genus Telephorus, as far as regards
the British Species, vol. ii. p. 167. Phlceotrya rufipes, 11. 178.
Latridius testaceus, Ceuthorhynchus inornatus, Monotoma 4-foveo-
lata, 11. 179. Notes of the Genera Malthinus and Malthodes, ii. 181.
Anisonyx fuscula, a Genus of Coleoptera New to Britain, 1. 189.
Borboropora Saulcyi, a New British Coleopteron; Notes on certain
Alterations of Nomenclature in the Genus Malachius; Notes on the
Genus Telmatophilus, with Descriptions of a New British Species ;
Notes of some Species New to Britain, ii. 209 et seg. Notes on the
Melyride, ii. 213. Extract from the Monograph on Gymnetron, by
W. H. de Barneville (a translation), ii. 216. Remarks on Synonymy

oe ee

icine —"

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 239

of the Genus Dasytes, ii. 225. Remarks on the Genus Ceuthorhynchus
and its Allies, ii. 259. Some remarks on the Genus Nothus of Olivier,
ii. 261. Captures in Monk Wood, Huntingdonshire, ii. 268.

1866—7. Observations on the Genus Anaspis, ii. 31. Further
Notes on the Telephoridze, iii. 47. Notes on a Species of Homalide
New to Britain, iii. 60. Observations on concluding portion of the
Curculionide, iii. 63. Prior Appearance of Male of Female, iii. 67.
Mould on Lepidoptera, iii. 72. Revision of the ‘ Catalogue of British
Coleoptera,’ in. 105, 119, 133, 173.

1868—9. Notes on some Doubtful British Coleoptera, iv. 47.
Notes on recent Continental Publications on Coleoptera, iv. 65. New
Method of Preserving Coleoptera, iv. 229. Contributions to a Synopsis
of British Coleoptera, iv. 307.

1870. Notes on British Coleoptera, v. 7.

In 1864 Mr. Crotch visited the Canary Islands, in company
with his brother, the doctor, whose success there two years
previously I have already mentioned. I find no separate
record of the result of this most laborious journey; but the
new species obtained, seventy-seven in number, have been
described by Mr. Wollaston in the Appendix to his
‘Coleoptera Atlantidum.’ This year also he obtained an
appointment as one of the assistant librarians in the Public
Library at Cambridge, and received the degree of M.A. in
Natural Science.

In 1865 he visited Spain in company with several French
savans, and by their united exertions some of the finest
collections of Spanish Lepidoptera were made in that country,
of which previously to this visit little was known entomo-
logically.

“In the year 1867 Mr. Crotch published, in the Proceedings of
the Zoological Society of London, a complete enumeration of the
Coleoptera of the Azores, accompanied by descriptions of new species
found there by Messrs. Godman and Brewer. Although his collections
had by this time become very considerable and required much of his
time, Mr. Crotch pursued with untiring industry his studies of the
literature of Entomology, and published, besides a large number of
corrections of the Catalogue of Coleoptera of Gemminger and Von
Harold, a list of all the Coleoptera of the group Adephaga, described
from the year 1758—1821, referring them to their modern genera;
this he did with the hope of assisting others who, like himself, were
engaged in attempting to cleanse the Augean stable of entomological
nomenclature. This work was published at Cambridge in 1871, and

240 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

by this time he was recognized by the best judges to be the man who
had a more detailed acquaintance with the ancient literature of Ento-
mology than any other living student. This paper had, indeed, been
preceded by one published in the Transactions of the Entomological
Society of London, intituled ‘The Genera of Coleoptera studied
Chronologically (1785—-1801),’ which was, and probably will long
continue to be, of great use by pointing out to zoologists the great
difficulties that encumber any attempt to deal in a systematic manner
with entomological nomenclature. In 1871 he also published a
synopsis containing abbreviated descriptions of all the new species of
Coleoptera belonging to the European and Mediterranean faunas that
had been described during the year 1868; this little production cost
a vast amount of investigation; and it is much to be regretted that it
has not been continued by some other student, as he hoped it would
have been. By this time Mr. Crotch, whose enthusiasm for the study
of Entomology seemed to take always wider and wider limits, had
engaged himself in the investigation of the Coccinellide and Euro-
tylidee of the whole world.”—‘ Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine’ for
August, 1874.

In 1870 he visited Spain a second time, with a view of
completing his own and other collections of the Coleoptera of
that rich and interesting country, and a second time added
enormously to our knowledge of its insect fauna.

He now seems to have turned his attention to the great
object of his life, a coleopterous voyagé round the world, and
collecting in all countries of which the beetle population was
little or imperfectly known: he embarked in this gigantic
enterprise in 1872, and made rich collections in California,
Vancouver's Island, Oregon, and other states of the union,
thence returning across the continent of North America,
arrived at Philadelphia, and there finished his laborious
career.

In 1873 he completed his ‘Check List of the Coleoptera
of America, north of Mexico, and it was published the same
year at Salem, Mass., U.S., by the Naturalists’ Agency. His
last work was a ‘Revision of the Coleopterous Family
Coccinellidx:’ this is all printed, and I hope to obtain
complete copies in a few days.

It may be stated as conclusive evidence of the high
estimation in which his labours in the cause of Science
were held, that on two occasions sums were granted by his
University to assist in enabling him to persevere in the
course he had chosen.— Edward Newman.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

No. 135.] NOVEMBER, MDCCCLXXIV. [Prior 6d.

Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s
‘Die Mitteleuropdischen Eichengallen’ by Mrs. HuBEerr
HERKOMER née WEISE.

18. Cynips Kollari.—The
gall of this species appears
on the oaks in the same way
as that of Cynips tinctoria,
from which, in many in-
stances, it cannot easily be
distinguished. Itis perfectly .
spherical, from twelve to te : L
twenty-three millemetres in Ne < dg
diameter, of a_ brownish
yellow colour,—rarely of
a brownish red-yellow, —
naked, smooth, and often
without any unevennesses,
but it has sometimes such
isolated and minute warts as
occur on the gall of Cynips
tinctoria. The section ex-
hibits a brownish yellow
reticulation, consisting of
thin-walled parenchyma and
parenchyma-cells, so that the
gall may be easily cut with
a knife. No proper inner- oy. : :
gall, like that of Cynips Cynrps Kormari (and in section).
tinctoria, is to be found,
although the gall-substance surrounding the oval larva-cell
in the centre of the gall is harder, and has a radiate-striated

VOL. VII. QI

242 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

appearance. When parasites develope themselves in the
larva-cell we sometimes meet with a stronger and rather hard
condensation of the gall-substance which surrounds the cells.
The gall, green in summer, becomes yellowish in September,
and is pierced by the imago towards the end of this month.
Most of the parasites and inquilines, however, do not come
forth till the following winter or spring. It adheres so
firmly to the twigs that we often meet with galls two or
three years old still attached to the twigs. Many of these
galls may be mistaken for those of Cynips tinctoria, yet are
to be distinguished by their brownish yellow colour and
obscure reticulations on the surface, by the absence of any
distinctly-pronounced interior gall, and by the earlier
emergence of the perfect insect. The gall of Cynips
tinctoria occurs in the southern half of Europe, though
near Vienna it is no longer frequently met with; that of
Cynips Kollari, however, is found as far as the German
Ocean.—G. L. Mayr.

The occurrence in England of this gall, which has received
the name of Devonshire gall,* has been a prolific source of
entomological correspondence, and I may say of entomological
literature. Probably many early records of such occurrences
have escaped entomologists, from their being published in
newspapers and other periodicals neither exclusively nor
chiefly devoted to subjects in any way connected with Natural
History. Entomologists who have read such sensational
paragraphs on the subject of oak-galls, and the loss they are
likely to bring on the farmers and landowners, may reason-
ably be excused for disregarding them, as we certainly do
the “ unparalleled phenomenon” of multitudes of winged-ants
making their appearance at the end of August, or the “ un-
precedented event” of a “ mosquito” (Culex pipiens) having
attacked a slumbering traveller in the best bed-room of
the best hotel in London. It is not that we call in
question the existence of the galls, or of the winged-ants,
or of the mosquito, or any of the concomitant circum-
stances: these are indisputable, but, like the historical
gray horse one always meets on London Bridge, they are
facts that make no impression on our visual organs, and

* Throughout this note I shall retain the name Lignicola for the Deyon-
shire gall, although Dr. Mayr has giyen it to another species,

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 243

therefore none on our mental perceptions or memory. Such
paragraphs form no part of gall-history, or ant-history, or
gnat-history: for these we must investigate more methodical
and more reliable sources of information. The authentic
history of the Devonshire gall, as British, commenced on the
6th November, 1854, with Mr. Rich, who was present as a
visitor at the meeting of the Entomological Society of London,
and exhibited “some sprays of oak thickly covered with
large galls. He observed that in Somersetshire, and in
part of Gloucestershire, they were so abundant that the oaks
were completely covered with them, to the extinction of the
acorns,* the loss of which, for feeding their pigs, the farmers
greatly regretted, although he believed that in the value of
these galls they had more than an equivalent, seeing that the
chemical properties of these galls were nearly equal to those
of the Aleppo galls, imported for the manufacture of ink.
Mr. Curtis said that Mr. Rich had given him an example of
this gall, and that he had also recently received some similar
galls, with a specimen of the fly, from his friend Mr. Walcott,
of Bristol, who obtained them from an oak growing near the
Hotwells, Clifton. Having paid great attention to the
Cynipide, and bred most of those which are produced from
oak-trees, he (Mr. Curtis) had often been doubtful respecting
the true Cynips Quercus-petioli of Linneus; but he was
convinced the specimen he now exhibited—which he had
bred, with a few others, from the galls alluded to—is the
Linnean species. Cynips Quercus-petioli is described by
Linneus in his ‘ Fauna Suecica,’ No. 1523, where he refers to
Resel, who has given good figures of the galls, fly, &c.
(‘Insecten Belustigung, iii. Sup. tab. 35 and 36). The flies
are much larger than any other species which had been
described as British, and are nearly allied to those produced
from the galls of commerce, the Diplolepis Galla-tinctoria of
Olivier. Mr. Stainton said that for the last four or five years
he had noticed these galls in Devonshire, but not in such
profusion as now stated. ‘The President had some doubts
whether this was the Cynips Quercus-petioli of Linneus, for

* At p. 155 of the fourth volunie of the ‘ Entomologist,’ Mr. Bignell states
that he finds galls and acorns on the same tree, and offers to send a piece of
oak with both on it. This scarcely militates against the fact that galls are
generally produced where acorns do not grow.

944 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

the galls were situated in the axils of the leaf, and not on the
petiole.” (Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond.: reported Zool. 4567.)
It is further reported, at p. 4571 of the ‘ Zoologist’ (dated,
December, 1854), that at the following meeting Mr. Jordan
stated that he had known these galls for twenty years, and
that a medical man at Lympstone, near Exmouth, “used
them always to make his ink, and tried to impress upon the
country people the use that might spring from making them
an article, so to speak, of exportation.” The pecuniary
advantage of exporting these galls, at a time when we were
importing the Aleppo galls for the very purpose of ink-
making, does not seem very obvious. Still the project of
utilizing the galls in the manufacture of ink was praise-
worthy, but it was doomed to undergo a decided discourage-
ment from the careful analysis of Dr. Hart Vinen (reported
Zool. 5025), from which it appears that these galls contained
but 17 per cent. of tannin, whereas the Aleppo galis, the
well-known ink-gall of commerce, contained 56 per cent.
“ Dr. Vinen,” commenting on this great disparity, “thinks it
possibly in some degree attributable to the fact that whereas
all the Aleppo galls were entire, those from Devonshire were
all perforated by the Cynips in escaping: it was a well-known
fact that a sample of the galls of commerce were depreciated
in value by the presence of any that were perforated.
Dr. Vinen, however, wished to call the attention of the
Society (the Linnean) to the extraordinary discrepancy
existing between the various published analyses of the
Aleppo galls, which was greater even than that between his
own analyses of the Devonshire and Aleppo galls: Sir
Humphrey Davy’s analysis yielded 26 per cent. of tannin;
Pelour’s, 40; Lecounet’s, 60; Guibourt’s, 65; Mohr’s, 72;
and Buchner’s, 77.” I assume that tannin is the element
required in ink-manufacture, and, this being so, it is most
desirable that experiments, for testing the amount of this
element, should be made on galls in a precisely similar
condition as to age and maturity. Iam uncertain whether
this vegetable dye is still a necessity in the manufacture of
ink, or whether minerals have not superseded its use. Con-
tinuing the English history of this species, we find that at a
meeting of the Entomological Society in February, 1855,
Mr. Stainton read a letter on the subject, without giving the

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 245

name of his correspondent, which contained much valuable
information ; but, as it appeared, that letter was written by
Mr. Parfitt, of Exeter, who has subsequently written me a
more amplified paper for publication in the ‘ Zoologist. I
have preferred giving this further on, seeing it will be found to
embrace all the points mentioned in the letter to Mr. Stainton,
and others equally interesting. Ata meeting of the Entomo-
logical Society, on the 5th November, 1855, Mr. Curtis read
the following note from the late Mr. Haliday, who had
collected a great number of these galls at Glanville’s Wootton,
the seat of the late Mr. Dale, in Dorsetshire :—“ I cannot
identify it with any Linnean or Fabrician species, but it is
the Cynips Lignicola of Hartig, and the only one of that
group to which the ink-gall belongs, that occurs so far north
as England, or even Northern Germany.” (Zool. 4964.) It
should be stated in this place that, at p. 7 of the fourth
volume of the ‘ Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine,’ the Rev.
T. A. Marshall—who is indefatigable in the study of the
British Cynipide, and in every respect competent to speak
with authority on the subject—says that the Cynips Quercus-
petioli of Linneus is a species of Synergus, and a parasite on
Cynips Lignicola. I have no precise recollection of the date
when this gall first became known to myself: the observations
above quoted would seem to indicate its having been estab-
lished in Britain at least half a century; but I cannot
refer to any evidence of its non-existence here at an earlier
period. The absence of a record is the only reason we can
possibly assign for supposing the absence of the gall; and
when we consider how very recently galls have been observed
by us at all, and how very small is the number of observers
even now, we must not lay too much stress on the silence
of our predecessors. This gall certainly now forces itself
into notice, and it does not appear thus to have intruded
itself on the notice of our entomologists during the half
century previous to that in which we are now living: this is,
perhaps, in favour of its absence at an earlier date. Then
with regard to its economical bearing on our country. The
alarmists prophesied the speedy destruction of the oak,—a
tree that is metaphorically considered the bulwark of British
safety. Now [ have yet to learn that it does any appreciable
injury to the adult oak. Its effect upon the sapling, so often

246 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

mentioned, is observable; but even on these it is not very
serious, and has never been carefully observed or accurately
estimated. Many newspaper writers took up the cause of the
pigs, who were supposed by Mr. Rich, in the passage I have
cited, to be on the point of losing a favourite esculent
through the agency of this gall; and the watchword sounded
far and wide,—“ Rally round the pig.” ‘Stand by the pig”
was the war-cry thoughout the West of England. The farmers
girded themselves for the combat; but, alas, could not discover
the enemy. Willing, aye, eager, to fight by the side of their
favourite, his enemy was nowhere to be seen,—was too small
to contend with; fighting was out of the question ; the war-cry
was abandoned, and the helpless wail arose from every Western
press, “‘ Pity the poor pig.” And those entomologists who,
like myself, are ever on the look-out for the protection of
crops from insect-enemies, were continually appealed to, to
recommend some powder or chemical that should be a
remedy against the galls. But here I must introduce
Mr. Parfitt’s letter, which embraces the whole subject, and, I
think, shows, amongst other things, that the remedy was not
required. This accomplished naturalist begins by objecting
to the statement that these galls were first brought into notice
by Mr. Rich, and then proceeds, thus :—‘“‘1 was the first to
take particular notice of them. I sent some of the galls to
Mr. Westwood as far back as 1848 or 1849, to ask the name
of these excrescences. I sent to him through one of the
gardening periodicals, and received from him the name of
Quercus terminalis. This was stated in a letter I wrote to
Mr. Stainton some moths ago, which was read at one of your
meetings [meaning the meetings of the Entomological Society],
and caused rather a sharp discussion. Mr. Westwood was
present, but took no part in it; he no doubt considered that
the name he had given was the correct one; but in this he
was in error,* as the gall now appears to be the Cynips
Lignicola of Hartig. Had it been new, or should a specific
difference between our insect and Lignicola be hereafter

* Subsequently Mr. Westwood seems to have altered his opinion, for he is
reported (Zool. 4708) to have said, at a meeting of the Entomological Society,
on the 2nd April, 1855:—‘*I determined the specimens to be C. Quercus-
petioli so long ago that the ink with which the name was written on the
label has faded.”

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 247

detected, I would suggest the name of Cynips Quercus-
gemme,* as the parent insect deposits its eggs in the buds
themselves, and the galls are produced at the expense of the
buds. I do not see cause for such alarm as one would
be ied to suppose through reading an article in the ‘ Gardener’s
Chronicle’ some short time since. It is true the insect is
very injurious to the young trees in particular. In the two
large nurseries in Exeter the young trees are sadly distorted,
and they cannot make headway against the enemy ; but once
turn the galls into use, and they will disappear much faster
than they have been produced. I before stated, in the letter
read by Mr. Stainton, that it is rare to see the galls above ten
feet from the ground, but the nearer the ground the thicker
the galls, and on the little twigs lying on and just above the
surface of the ground nearly every bud has been metamor-
phosed into a gall; as you ascend they gradually diminish
in number, until the line may be drawn at ten feet, above
which only a few stragglers can be found. ‘The winter before
this last the tomtits had found out the secret of what was in
these galls, for they were never at a loss fora meal. When
the ground was covered with snow I have seen numbers of the
blue-headed titmouset working away at the galls in search of
the fine fat larve of the Cynips; and this winter the titmice
appear to have been more destructive to the larvae, for now
in a short walk you may find hundreds, nay, thousands, that
have been picked to pieces to get at the insect within.{
Should these galls be turned to account for the manufacture
of ink, being so near the ground they could be easily gathered
by children, so that the cost would be very trifling. It is said
by the writers in the ‘Gardener’s Chronicle’ that the galls
diminish the crop of acorns: now I cannot believe this,
because, as I said before, it is uncommon to find them on

* This is the Linnean name for another species.

+ In the ‘ Field’ newspaper, September, 1871, Mr. H. B. Murray informs
us that the galls in question “are opened by squirrels, and not by titmice, as
stated by Mr. Parfitt;” adding :—“ I have myself seen the ground under the
oak-trees strewn with the fragments of these galls, and there could be no doubt
of squirrels being the operators, as they were seen in the act.” I have no
ground for differing from Mr. Murray as to squirrels; but I entirely agree
with Mr. Parfitt as to titmice: I have seen titmice of the species Creruleus,
Ater, and Palustris, engaged on them.

¢ I have written rather a long paper on this subject—* Titmice and Galls”
—in the ‘ Field’ newspaper.

248 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

large trees, and it is well known that it is only the large—I
may call them mature—trees that produce acorns, so the
injury done to them cannot be great. As regards the species
of this Cynips it is certainly not the C. Quercus-folii of
Linneus; though the figure of the perfect insect, given by
J. Raemur in the ‘Genera Insectorum Linnei et Fabricii,’
agrees pretty well, the description does not agree at all with
our insect.” (Zool. 5074.)

There is a phase of the subject which would demand a
detailed investigation here, had I not so recently urged my.
views on the readers both of the ‘ Entomologist’ (vol. vi.
p. 275) and ‘ Field’ newspaper. There is a constant struggle
going on between the oak and the Cynips, the aim of the oak
being to reproduce its kind by seed, the aim of the Cynips to
utilize the oak as a nidus and a provision for its progeny ; but
oak-timber or oak-leaf in a normal, natural or healthy state, is
not precisely the provision that the infant gall-fly would require,
so the parent punctures the oak, its rind, or its leaf, or its
leaf-stalk, or its flower, and injects a sap-poison, which totally
alters the condition and qualities of the sap: this in sufficient
abundance would kill the oak; but when we glance at the
comparative magnitude of the oak and its enemy, we see that
such a result is improbable; still the effect is deleterious: the
oak struggles against it, and strives to perfect its normal
produce; the Cynips also struggles to maintain its ground:
each holds its own, and neither, during its brief historical
existence, has gained any advantage over the other; and so
the contest ends in a compromise. These galls are not
acorns, as the oak would have willed that they should be, but
are the nearest approach to acorns that the oak can produce *
under its affliction. I have examined hundreds, perhaps
thousands, of these objects during the past and _ present
autumns, and invariably with the same result. The gall
consists of two parts,—the larger is spherical, the smaller

* Mr. Inchbald, in the ‘ Field’ newspaper, strenuously opposed the doctrine
(first introduced to public notice by the editor of that newspaper), that these
galls are produced at the expense of the acorns. In a subsequent paper,
reprinted in the sixth volume of the ‘Entomologist,’ p. 338, Mr. Parfitt
expresses an opinion opposed to that of Mr. Inchbald, and argues that the
solution there suggested is the correct one: Mr. Parfitt’s reply is logical, and
extremely well argued. Of course I cannot reprint a paper so recently
published in this journal.

oer nT oe

Se yy ee ey ene ee

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 249

saucer-shaped and situated beneath the larger, and between
this and the twig to which it is attached; the spherical body
represents the carpel of the acorn, or the acorn proper, and
the saucer-shaped cushion, on which it rests, represents the
cupule or cup, or calyx. Having ventured to call the entire
gall a pseudo-balanus, or false acorn, so will I call the spherical
portion the “ pseudo-carpel,” and the cushion the “ pseudo-
calyx.” On carefully examining the pseudo-carpel—projecting
from it exacly opposite the point of attachment, and there-
fore on its summit—will be found a small pointed process,
which represents the persistent stigma of the acorn; and the
exterior covering of the pseudo-carpel—tough, leathery, and
smooth—represents the pericarp of the acorn. I fail to
discover, either on the real or false acorn, the markings so
clearly expressed in Dr. Mayv’s figure. The resemblance or
mimicry of the true cupule by the false one is not very
evident; the relative magnitude of acorn and cup are very
different, but the composition is the same. If I understand
that of the true acorn correctly, it is made up of a number of
involucral scales or bracts, soldered, anchylosed, and com-
pressed together into acupular form; and this I believe to be
equally the explanation of the mimetic cupule. As in the
true acorn, a vertical section will bisect the stigma, the
carpel, and the cupule, showing that there is the same method
in the arrangement of the parts of the false and true acorns.
Until a year or more has elapsed I can find no tendency to
dehiscence at the base of the pseudo-carpel, but during the
second year I have repeatedly observed this dehiscence, the
pseudo-carpel falling to the ground like an acorn, and
exhibiting a cicatrix at its base, while the cushion, cupule or
pseudo-calyx, retains its adhesion to the twig. ‘This is also
the case with the Aleppo galls, Cynips galle-tinctoriz, which
dehisce and fall in numbers every autumn.

This is emphatically the species on which the most careful
observations have been made, with a view to settle the
doubtful point, whether or not the species is continued from
year to year by a succession of females only, or whether
males do exist in alternate generations or in some undis-
covered form. The latter seems the more reasonable con-
jecture, and [ think was first promulgated by the late Mr.
Walsh, at p. 820 of the second volume of the ‘ American

2K

250 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Entomologist,’ as already incidentally noticed in this journal.
More recently Mr. H. F. Bassett—a most careful observer—
States, at p. 91 of the fifth volume of the ‘Canadian Entomolo-
gist,’ that “ Cynips quercus-operator, an American species, is
double-brooded, one brood of females ovipositing in the buds
of the oak, and again some of a second brood ovipositing in the
young acorns of Quercus ilicifolia. From these and other facts
he infers that all the American species, that are found only in
the female sex, are represented in another generation by both
sexes, and that the two broods are, owing to seasonal differ-
ences, produced from galls that are entirely distinct from each
other.” Whether this is only an ingenious conjecture, or an
absolute discovery, | am unable to say; if the latter it may
(in the hands of such painstaking men as Mr. Inchbald,
Mr. Smith, Mr. Parfitt, Mr. Marshall, and Mr. Fitch) supply
a clew to the eventual discovery of the males of Cynips
Lignicola. In the meantime the weight of evidence is thrown
into the other scale. I know not when or where the state-
ment originated, but I find myself in 1835, in the ‘Grammar
of Entomology,’ describing the female Cynips (p. 210), as
though a male had never been seen or thought of; and again,
in my little pamphlet on the ‘ Physiological Classification
of Animals,’ I have plainly stated that no male is known.
In 1861 Mr. F. Smith, of the British Museum, sent me a
paper on the subject, which, so far as negative evidence can
go, seems completely to decide the question as to the non-
existence of a male in Cynips Lignicola. I will cite portions of
this paper :—“ In the year 1857 I felt desirous of satisfying
myself as far as possible, by my own observations, of the
truth of the opinion at that time put forth by more than
one eminent entomologist, that in the genus Cynips there is
only one form of sex; in other words, that in the genus
Cynips there is xo male. In order to carry out my experi-
ments I obtained from Devonshire a large supply of the galls
of C. Lignicola, somewhere about a bushel and a half: every
gall was tenanted by the Cynips or its parasite, Callimome
Devoniensis. About the beginning of April, 1858, the Cynips
began to issue from the galls, and continued to do so up to
the end of May, at which time Icould not have obtained less
than twelve thousand examples, and many hundreds of its
parasite. By examining the galls daily during the progress

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 251

of the development of the flies, I was enabled to examine the
whole of the latter, and to satisfy myself that all of this
immense number were females. I also placed about sixty
galls in as many separate boxes, and when the Cynips came
out I carried them to different localities in the vicinity of

London, placing them upon low oaks in woods and hedges.
In the month of August I revisited the various localities, and
in about eight cases out of twelve I found galls upon the very
trees on which I had placed the Cynips, but on none in their
vicinity. From these galls I again obtained Cynips, and this
brood I also placed in isolated situations; and again I found
galls formed in about the same proportion as in the previous
instance. In neither of these cases could there have been
any connection with the male sex, unless that sex be of
microscopic dimensions.” (Zool].7332.) And again:—“ Every
observation which has been made on the genus Cynips is
against the possibility of the existence of an active male: it
is proved that females, which could not have been fertilized
by copulation, deposit eggs which are fruitful.” (Zool. 7332.)
Mr. Smith then quotes Léon Dufour, who reared Cynips by
thousands from different species of galls without discovering
a male; and Hartig, who obtained twenty-eight species of
Cynips, all females, from different kinds of galls; in one
case that of Cynips divisa, at least ten thousand females, and
about four thousand of Cynips Folii. MHartig has also
observed “the female Cynips issue from the gall, and imme-
diately proceed to deposit her eggs.” To this Mr. Smith
says:—‘‘I may also add that during the past autumn I have
bred numbers of Cynips Folii from the cherry-gall of the
oak-leaf, all being females;” and he concludes in these
words :—* In fact, all observation is opposed to the existence
of an active male in the genus Cynips.”

I was expecting Mr. Walker’s notes on the parasites of
Cynips Lignicola, when the mournful intelligence reached
me that his labours were ended, and his observations had
ceased for ever. I have thus lost the most able of coadjutors.

I copy two notes, which have already appeared in the
‘Entomologist,’ because containing all the information I have
at hand respecting the parasites of the Devonshire gall. The
first is by Mr. Walker :—

252 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

“Note on Cynips Lignicolaa—Two supposed parasites, a
Callimome and a Decatoma, have long been recorded as
inhabiting the Devonshire gall. I have lately received from
Mr. Newman two other species reared from these galls.
They have not yet been recorded as British, and may be new
species. One is a Eurytoma; the other, a Callimome, has
also been reared by Mr. Fitch.— Francis Walker.” (Entom.
vi. 101.)

The second note is by Mr. Fitch :—

“ Additional Parasites of Cynips Lignicola.—I have lately
bred seven different species of parasites—not including the
well-known Callimome Devoniensis of Parfitt and Decatoma
—from some dwarfed specimens of C. Lignicola, which I
collected at Burnham, Essex, last February. Mr. Walker
has kindly examined the insects, and finds some new to
Britain, if not altogether new species. The insects are—
First, ten specimens of Ormyrus punctiger; emerged from
18th June to 29th July. Second, one male Eurytoma (n.s.?);
emerged 18th April. Third, one Pteromalus; emerged 138th
May. Fourth, numerous specimens of a Callimome, nearly
allied to C. inconstans; emerged between 28th April and
20th June. Fifth; several females and one male of Calli-
mome, n.s.; emerged between 8rd and 17th April. Stath,
nine specimens of a small black Hymenopteron, quite
unknown to Mr. Walker,—seven females and two males ;
emerged from middle to end of March. Seventh, one speci-
men; emerged 25th June; returned by Mr. Walker as n.g.,
allied to Entedon. All these were bred from a small cluster
of galls on a single twig—Edward A. Fitch.” (Entom. vi.
243.)—Edward Newman.

Life-histories of Sawflies. Translated from the Dutch of
M.S. C. SNELLEN VAN VOLLENHOVEN. By J. W. May, Esq.
(Continued from vol. vi. p. 184.)

NEMATUS LATIPES, Villaret.

Imago: Foulques de Villaret, Mémoire sur quatre nouvelles
espéces de Tenthrédines, dans les Ann. de la Soc. Ent.
tome i. p. 303, pl. xi., figs. 4—6; Hartig, Blatt-und
Holzwespen, p. 185, No, 8.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 253

Larva undescribed.

Nematus niger, palpis pallidis, abdominis medio et femorum
posticorum parte inferiori rufis, tarsorum posticorum
articulo primo dilatato.

Two species of Nematus, having the first joint of the
posterior tarsi dilated, have already been described in this
journal, namely, Septentrionalis, Z., in the second volume,
and Varus, De Villar., in the sixth, and I had no expectation
of being able to add a third species, as I regarded the two
others, mentioned by Villaret, as restricted to the south of
Europe. When I first saw the imago of this new species,
running about in a confectioners glass, in which some
Nematus larve had been placed, I thought that a larva of
Septentrionalis, which also lives on the birch, had, by some
mistake, got among them; but I soon saw, to my delight,
that I had before me a species with which I was hitherto
unacquainted in the free state. I am again indebted for this
discovery to the kindness of Mr. de Roo van Westmaas. I
had, indeed, myself met with the larva in the wood near
Zeist, and had taken it home and made a drawing of it, but I
had failed in rearing it. Afterwards, in 1861, I received
some larve from my friend De Roo, with which I was
equally unfortunate; but at the end of September, last year,
he sent me a large number of larve, which I at last succeeded
in rearing, so that I have both sexes of the imago. I am,
however, still unacquainted with the egg. The youngest
larve which I saw had the appearance represented at fig. 1,
pl. 8,—very dark brown, almost black, with shining brown
head and yellow legs. In my earliest notes on this species
(written at least twenty-two years ago) I make the observation
that the smallest larve were entirely shining dark brown,
with yellow anal legs or claspers, and that the yellow colour
of the anterior and intermediate legs was only acquired after
the larve had moulted on the 29th of August. The nearly
full-grown lJarve are of the size and appearance of figs. 2
and 8. The head was depressed anteriorly, shining, of a dark
brown colour, approaching black, and covered with very
short gray hairs; the parts of the mouth were yellow. ‘I'he
four anterior abdominal segments yellow underneath; the
body strongly wrinkled, black, with a shade of brown; the

254 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. .

margin of the anterior segment and the borders of the
spiracles yellowish. The thoracic legs were yellow, with
brown claws, and had a black mark on the last joint. The
folds at the side were slightly hirsute. There were six pairs
of abdominal legs, yellow, with a small transverse black line
on the outside. The anal valve was brownish black, having
a small spine on either side (fig. 4). Lastly, the ventral
surface of the last segment and the two anal legs were deep
yellow. These larve, which fed on the birch, were of a
restless nature, frequently raising the abdomen and curving it
over the back, in which position they would remain for some
time. Hardly had the colony returned to a state of rest, and
each individual assumed a natural position, when one of the
number became restless, and commenced waving about from
side to side, its example being followed by all the others, and
some time elapsed before there was another pause. In their
restless habit, as well as in their gregarious mode of living,
they more nearly resembled Septentrionalis than Varus. On
the apodal 4th segment, and on the 5th and 6th, between the
legs, were greenish gray dermal processes, which could be
reverted like the horns of the snail: these organs (fig. 5), which
could be protruded to three times the length of the legs, were
open at the extremity, whence a viscid and fetid fluid could
be ejected. We have already observed similar glandular
openings in nearly allied species.

In the beginning of October the larve took to the earth,
and buried themselves as deeply as they could in the jar: the
cocoon, which was single, was black and tough, very smooth
within, and rough exteriorly, and curled up; in these the
larve passed the winter. They passed into the pupa state at
the end of April, being probably at first white and afterwards -
coloured. On the 5th of May of this year I found one which
had already acquired its full colouring; of this I made a
drawing (fig. 7), which calls for no special remark, excepting
that the insect in question had so nearly reached the time for
shedding the thin pupal membrane that the antenne were no
longer lying along in front of or between the legs, but were
being moved about; in fact, the first imago, a female,
appeared on the 4th of May, and was soon followed by
others; a male appeared later. The female (fig. 8) had the
head, thorax and antenne black; palpi gray; cenchri white;

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 255

the abdomen was shining red, with the exception of the 1st
segment, the sides and ventral surface of the 7th and the
whole of the 8th, including the anal processes,—all which parts
were black. The anterior legs were black nearly as far as
the knee; further, obscure reddish gray, becoming of a darker
tint to the claws; both the following pairs were black as far
as the knee, then followed a white band, the remainder being
brown or nearly blackish; the coxe of the last pair were
black, the extreme point, together with the apophyses, being
white; femora shining black above, bright red on the under
side; tibiz black, with a white band at the base, finely
hirsute, flat, and dilated towards the extremity, having long
black spines with red tips; tarsi black, the first joint broad
and flattened, and somewhat hairy; wings transparent, with
a little faint smoke-coloured band on the upper wings past
the stigma, which is dark brown, and over the tip of the
under wings. Length, nine millemetres; expanding seven-
teen millemetres. .

The male, in addition to the usual sexual characteristics,
differed in the colour of the antenne, the first two joints of
which are black, the seven remaining joints being dark
brown above and pale brown on the under side; and this sex
also differed in having the apex of the abdomen entirely red,
or at least brownish red. ‘The intermediate Jegs are also
paler in colour, and on the middle of the posterior tibiz a
red glow is perceptible between the white and black portions.
Figures 9 and 10 are intended to show these points of differ-
ence; the first represents the ventral surface of the abdomen
of the male, with the second and posterior pair of legs; and
the other, the under surface of the left antenna.

* Itis highly probable that this species has more than one
brood in the year. It has only hitherto been observed in the
provinces of Utrecht and Gelderland.

Description of a Eupithecia New to Science ; together with
Notes on its Life-history. By C. 8. Greeson, Esq.
Eupithecia Knautiata.—Kxpands ten to eleven lines.

Head, thorax, abdomen, and fore wings, deep rich cold-
brown; without striz. On the costa there are three or four

256 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

darker brown markings, and below the two outer marks a
large, dark, oval spot, placed rather high up, beyond which
is a very faint indication (often invisible) of a whitish spotted
line, terminated by a twin-spot near the anal angle, and
edged with dark brown; wing-rays dark and well defined;
abdomen smooth; hind wings large, dark cold-brown, having
a marginal line of long dark streaks, terminated with a
distinct light anal spot.

Larva:—Form, when young, slender, cylindrical; when
older, rather stout, attenuated to both extremities, much
appressed in the central segments, and somewhat rugose.
Colour, from French-white, pale straw-colour, ashy gray, to
light pea-greens and faint purplish peachy browns, and dirty
dim colours of various shades. With numerous specimens
before me, no two are alike, but shade away in every direction
from the above colours: a pale pea-green ground predomi-
nates, dark ashy grays are plentiful, and a few with light
purplish pink grounds may be seen, while in some the
ground colour is reddish brown of various shades ; altogether
they are not elegant or attractive in their variations, and only
a few of the varieties could be called pretty. Size, three-
fourths to seven-eighths of an inch. Head horn-like, very
small, ornamented with various marks and shadings; corslet
small and dull, distinctly striate. On the central segment
there is a well-defined, spade-shaped dark mark, pointing
forwards, through which the light dorsal streak is often con-
spicuous; this mark appears as a broad-arrow head, in some
positions edged with a light, rough, raised line, which passes
down slantingly to the spiracular region through the subdorsal
line, which is often well defined. In this species the central
markings are lost on the anterior and anal segments, merging™
into the ground colour, as they usually do in other closely-
allied species of this group of the genus Eupithecia, as at
present constituted. Spiracular line wavy and well defined ;
spiracles dark, with a distinct light ring round each; under
side light, and generally inclined to ashy green; feet light,
horn-like. General appearance rather coarse, rough, and
somewhat hairy. Not so stout as the larve of E. absynthiata
or Minutata, and larger than the heath-feeder relatively.
Whilst some remind you of Expallidata larve, others recall
those of Succenturiata; but we see the subdorsal line in

SO al at

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 257

Knautiata larva distinctly, whilst we fail to find it in its
allies.

Some of our “quid nuncs,” without seeing its larva, set it
down as E. absynthiata, whilst others go in for its being
Minutata; but, with considerable experience of this genus,
both in the larval and imago state, 1 am quite sure it is not
the former; and from its larval differentiation and larger size,
distinctly different, and darker colour and habit in the perfect
insect, we can hardly construe it into the latter well-known
heath-feeder. I therefore propose the specific name of
Knautiata for it.

The insect was first bred from the flower and seed of
Knautia arvensis by Mr. Porter, of Bolton, who discovered
it feeding in October, a few years ago, and who not only
supplied me copiously with it in its early state, but directed
me to his localities, where I took its larva freely on the 19th
of September, and again on the 27th, full fed. It feeds on
the flowers and seeds of the Knautia arvensis, which grows
in profusion on the banks of Ball Hill Lodges, near Bolton,
burrowing down into the flower and seed, until only one-half
of the larva is visible: it turns to a large, light, rich,
golden brown pupa. I may say, en passant, that I have fed
a few of these larve from the young state on heath-flowers,
to see if I could make them assume the beautiful pink colours
of E. minutata; but my experiment has failed.

C. S. GREGson.

September 30, 1874.

Entomological Notes, Captures, Sc.

“ Do Hornets ever Build in the Ground ?”—This question
is asked by Mr. Henry Reeks in the last number of the ‘ Ento-
mologist’ (Entom. vii. 232). I can, from personal observation,
assure him that they do so. In the month of August, 1871, L
found a hornet’s-nest in a bank at a wood side, near Sid-
mouth: it was at the latter part of the month, when the
colony was numerous. I stood within two yards of the
entrance to the nest for some time, the hornets passing in and
out, but exhibiting no dislike to my close observation: I was
anxious to ascertain whether hornets posted a sentinel within
the mouth of the burrow; I failed, however, to detect one.
In the fifth volume of the ‘ Entomological Magazine’ (p. 479)

2L

258 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

will be found a record of the hornet building in a perpendicular
bank at the side of a river. Mr. Reeks’ observations on “Our
Common Wasps,” in some particulars, do not accord with the
results of my own observations and experience. * Their number
is said to be four; this applies, I conclude, to the species
found in the neighbourhood of Thruxton. In the northern
counties, and also in Scotland, their number would be five,
Vespa norvegica being much more common than V. sylvestris.
Of V. rufa, Mr. Reeks observes that he he has found it work-
ing until very late in the autumn, even to the beginning of
November. This is a circumstance quite unknown to me
previously. In all the nests that I have watched, the wasps
have concluded their labours by the latter part of August, and
I do not remember ever to have met with V. rufa later than
the end of that month. My observations on V. vulgaris differ
widely from those of Mr. Reeks, who says, “'The males
and workers are never seen after August.” This will not
apply to the neighbourhood of London, where I have seen
both these sexes plentiful up to the end of September, and
workers I saw on the wing ten days ago, near Highgate. On
the 29th of September last, being in Yorkshire, I saw both
males and workers in plenty, feeding on ripe pears, to the
great disgust of a reverend friend of mine. V. germanica was
equally common. Mr. Reeks, no doubt, is theroughly well
acquainted with all the sexes of the four species common in
his own neighbourhood, but I have considerable doubts of
anyone being able to separate the males correctly of the two
commonest species, V. vulgaris and V. germanica, without an
examination of the sexual organs; colour or markings, | am
certain, from long experience, will not enable anyone to do
so, and the workers of those species are also extremely
difficult to separate: if whole colonies are examined, it will
be found that the markings on the face are by no means
constant. I have endeavoured to point out what I consider
to be the best guides, in my work on the ‘Fossores and
Vespide,’ published by the Trustees of the British Museum.
The females of all the species are readily distinguished, as
are also all the sexes of V. rufa, V. sylvestris, and V. norve-
gica. I never met with the male of V. arborea, but have
received what I believe to be it from Northumberland and
Carlisle: this species is very like V. rufa, but is rather
larger, and also is a stouter insect, the legs being thicker,

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 259

and the entire insect much more pubescent.—Frederick
Smith ; 27, Richmond Crescent, Islington.

Deiopeia pulchella in Hampshire.—I took two very good
D. pulchella a few days ago, but have not been able to get
any more.—George Gulliver; Brockenhurst, near Lyming-
ton, Hants, October 18, 1874.

Deiopeia pulchella near Christechurch—I1 have much
pleasure in recording the capture of a fine male D. pulchella,
by myself, on the Ist October, 1874, near Christchurch.—
[Rev.] A. C. Hervey; Pokesdown, Bournemouth.

Deiopeia pulchella in Cornwall.—The D. pulchella I sent
you a fortnight since was captured on the 26th September
last, in the same field in which they were found three years
since. Mr. Hearle took two in the same field on the pre-
ceding day. Having heard of his captures I went the
following day, which was a bright, sunny, and very hot one,
and had given up all hopes of finding any, when I saw
coming towards me what I supposed to be a white butterfly,
but on its near approach found it to be D. pulchella, when I
gave chase, and after a long run succeeded in boxing it. _ I
have searched the same locality many times since, but have
not seen any more. Precisely similar captures were made in
the same field three years ago, Mr. H. taking two on
September 13th,’and the following day I took one, but saw
none after that, although none were taken during the inter-
vening years. I think we may now look on it as having
become established there.—Stephen Clogg ; East Looe.

Deiopeia pulchella near Hastings—On Monday morning
last (September 28th) I caught a specimen of D. pulchella on
the East Cliff, Hastings: the insect had a good flight. I
identified it by a specimen belonging to Mr. Gardner, of
52, High Holborn. As the moth is scarce, and September an
unusual time for its appearance, I thought the capture worth
noting.—Constance Garlick ; 33, Great James Street, W.C.
September 30, 1874.

Deiopeia pulchella at Brighton—As Mr. Newman, in his
‘Natural History of British Moths, gives July as the month
for Deiopeia pulchella, it may interest some of your readers
to know that I took a specimen on a low wall on the Sth of
October, at Brighton, at nine o’clock in the morning.—C.
Hamlin; 14, Windsor Terrace, Preston, Brighton, October
26, 1874.

260 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. ’

Emmelesia unifasciata, Haw.—In September, 1872, my
friend Mr. F. O. Standish kindly sent me a number of larve
of this species. I put them into a pan which had silver sand
at the bottom about three inches deep, and fed them with the
seed-vessels of the red eyebright (Euphrasia Odontites). In
August, 1873, about a dozen moths appeared, and in August
this year three or four more. A-few days since I examined
all the cocoons, and found thirty-seven living pupe. Of
course no more of the perfect insects will emerge till August
next year, and it is impossible to say how long some of them
may remain in the pupa state. I believe this uncertainty of
the time in which many species of Lepidoptera remain in the
pupa state will, in a great measure, account for the abundance
of certain species in some years, and their scarcity in others.
—Henry Doubleday ; Epping, October 12, 1874.

Sterrha sacraria, Xylina conformis, §c., near Neath—
The following captures may be interesting to you:—In the
spring of this year Xylina conformis and Brephos Parthenias,
near to our locality; and in the autumn several specimens of
Plusia Festuce, a fine variety of Agrotis saucia, several
specimens of Epunda nigra, one of Sterrha sacraria, and one
of Hoporina croceago.—John T. D. Llewelyn; Ynisygerwn,
Neath, October 17, 1874.

Death of Mr. Walker.—It has become my painful duty to
record that Francis Walker, the most voluminous and most
industrious writer on Entomology this country has ever
produced, expired at his residence, Elm Hall, Wanstead, on
the 5th of October, 1874, sincerely lamented by all who
enjoyed the pleasure and advantage of his friendship. He
was the seventh son, and the tenth and youngest child, of
Mr. John Walker, a gentleman of independent fortune,
residing at Arno’s Grove, Southgate, where the subject of
this memoir was born on the 31st of July, 1809. Mr. Walker
—the father—had a decided taste for science, especially
Natural History: he was a fellow of the Royal and Horti-
cultural Societies, and vice-president of the Linnean, so that
his son’s almost boyish propensity for studies, in which he
afterwards became so eminent, seems to have been inherited
rather than acquired.

Mr. Walker’s decided talent for observing noteworthy facts

*
a

wm cae

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 261

in Entomology was first exhibited at home, when, as a mere
child, his attention was attracted by the butterflies, which, in
the fruit season, came to feed on the ripe plums and apricots
in his father’s gardens: Vanessa C-Album is especially men-
tioned ; and Limenitis Sibylla, another species no longer found
in the vicinity of London, was then common at Southgate.

In 1816 Mr. Walker’s parents were staying with their
family at Geneva, then the centre of a literary céterie, in
which they met, among other celebrities, Lord Byron,
Madame de Stael, and the naturalists De Saussure and
Vernet. They spent more than a year at Geneva and Vevey,
and in 1818 proceeded to Lucerne, from which place Francis,
then a boy nine years of age, made the ascent of Mont
Pilatus, in company with his elder brother Henry; their
object, in addition to the ever-delightful one of mountain-
climbing, being the collecting of butterflies. The family
afterwards visited Neuwied, and returned to Arno’s Grove
in 1820.

In 1830 the two brothers, Henry and Francis, again
visited the Continent, and now it was purely an entomological
tour, the late Mr. Curtis, the well-known author of ‘ British
Entomology, being their companion. This party collected
most assiduously in the island of Jersey, and afterwards at
Fontainebleau, Montpellier, Lyons, Nantes, Vaucluse, &c.,
the French Satyride, of which they formed very fine
collections, being their principal object.

Mr. Walker’s career as an author commenced in 1882. He
contributed, to the first number of the ‘ Entomological Maga-
zine, the introductory chapter of his ‘Monographia Chal
ciditum,’ a work on the minute parasitic Hymenoptera,—a
tribe of insects which he ever afterwards studied with the
most assiduous attention, and one on which he immediately
became the leading authority. He was then only twenty-
three years of age; but his writings exhibited a depth of
research and maturity of judgment “which have rarely been
excelled, and which abundantly evince the time and talent
he had ‘already devoted to these inseets. It is worthy of
notice that he now descended from the largest and most
showy to the smallest and least conspicuous of insects,
doubtless feeling that whereas among the magnificent butter-
flies there was little opportunity for the discovery of novelties,
among the Chalcidites everything was new —everything

262 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

required that minute, patient, and laborious investigation, in
which he seemed so especially to delight. Only two authors,
Dalman and Spinola, had preceded him in devoting their
attention to the structure of these atoms of creation; and
even these two had described comparatively a very small
number of species.

In 1834 Mr. Walker, somewhat reluctantly, consented to
undertake the editorial management of the ‘ Entomological
Magazine,’ and resigned this office the following year, yet
continued a constant contributor to its pages. The same
year he visited Lapland, in company with two of our most
distinguished botanists ; and in this extreme north of Europe,
and especially at Alten and Hammerfest, he assiduously
collected insects, more particularly the northern Diptera,
the Satyride among Lepidoptera, and the Chalcidide
amongst Hymenoptera. During this journey we have the
first and only notice of his prowess as a sportsman: he shot
willow grouse and ptarmigan; and on one solitary occasion
was accessory to the death of a reindeer; but as other rifles
besides his own were simultaneously discharged, it is difficult
to say whose was the effective bullet. Iam glad to be able
to record that Mr. Walker declined to give the poor creature
the coup de grace, and, for this especial purpose, resigned to
another his couteau de chasse.

In May, 1840, he married Mary Elizabeth, the eldest
daughter of Mr. Ford, of Ellell Hall, near Lancaster, and
spent the summer on the Continent, again collecting in
Switzerland with his customary assiduity.

In 1848 he explored the Isle of Thanet, the following year
the Isle of Wight, and succeeding years, 1850 and 1851, he
visited Geneva and Interlachen; and during the former year
commenced his great work on Diptera. This formed part of -
a projected series of works on British insects, to be called
‘Insecta Britannica,’ a project in which the late Mr. Spence
took a deep interest.

During the year 1851 was published the first volume of
the ‘ Diptera.’ This work is printed in 8vo, and contained
314 pages; the second volume appeared in 1853, and con-
tained 298 pages ; and the third volume in 1856, and contained
352 pages. Thus the entire work comprised nearly 1000
pages of closely-printed descriptions.

Another tour on the continent occupied a considerable

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 263

portion of 1857; Mr. Walker visiting Calais, Rouen, Paris,
Strasbourg, Biden: Baden, Heidelberg, Wiesbaden, *Frank-
fort, Mayence, Cologne, Brussels, Aix-la-Chapelle, and
Antwerp. During the journey he collected in the Black
Forest; and this is the only scene of his scientific labours,
during the tour, of which | have any intelligence.

The summer of 1860 was devoted to a thorough exploration
of the Channel Islands. Dr. Bowerbank was his companion
during a portion of the time; and, as a consequence, the
sponges of these islands, were a main object of research,—
the Gouliot caves in Sark, so celebrated for their marine
productions,—were a great attraction to both naturalists.

In 1861 Mr. Walker’s excursions were chiefly confined to
North Devon; he visited Linton, Clovelly, Ilfracombe, Bide-
ford, and Barnstaple: and now his attention seems to have
been again chiefly occupied with Lepidoptera, at the scarcity
of which he was greatly disappointed, having expected, from
the extensive woods, to have found moths particularly
abundant,

In 1863 he toured the English lakes; and, in the spring of
1865, North Wales and Ireland; and in the autumn he again
visited Paris, Geneva, Lucerne, Interlachen, and Alltdorf,
ascending the Righi, Mont Pilatus and the Miirren, and
proceeding to Kandersteg, the Oeschinen See, and the
Gemmi Pass.

In 1867 we find him again in France and Switzerland,
ascending the Col de Voza, and examining the Jardin of the
Mer de Glace; thence over the Téte Noir to Martigny, Sion,
and the Great St. Bernard; returning by St. Maurice and the
Villeneuve to Geneva.

In 1869 he made the tour of the Isle of Man, and returned
by Holyhead ; in 1870 he paid another visit to Llanberis, as
well as to all the more beautiful scenery in North Wales,
crossing over to Ireland, and touring that island from south
to north ; and in 1871 he examined entomologically the Scilly
Islands, and the districts of the Lizard and the Land’s End.

In 1872 he turned his attention to Italy, visiting Rome,
Pisa, Lucca, Florence, Naples, Sorrento, Capri, Milan, and
Venice, as well as the Lakes of ‘Como and Maggiore.

And, finally, in the present year, he had again proceeded
as far as Aberystwith, on his way to Ireland, when his
intention was frustrated by illness, which terminated fatally

264 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

on the 5th of October. He died in the most perfect peace of
body and of mind. For many years Mr. Walker was a
member of the Linnean and Entomological Societies of
London, but resigned his membership in both some time
before the close of his life.

It might be excusable in a man of such incessant bodily
activity,—so locomotive by inclination, so devoted to the
study of Nature in all her aspects, so diligent a collector of
the objects of his favourite study,—had he allowed his pen
to rest while his hands were engaged in forming and
arranging his collections. But this was not the case with
Mr. Walker, as his Catalogues of the National Collection
abundantly testify. Of the Lepidoptera Heterocera, alone,
Mr. Walker catalogued and described upwards of twenty-three
thousand species; in addition to which he prepared similar
catalogues, although perhaps not to the same extent, of the
Diptera, Orthoptera, Homoptera, Neuroptera, and part of the
Hymenoptera: such an amount of labour, as is testified by
these catalogues, has seldom, if ever, been accomplished
by one individual. But this statement by no means
represents the whole of his literary labours. He contributed
shorter or longer papers to the Transactions of learned
societies, and to the periodicals of the day, especially
to the ‘Zoologist’ and ‘Entomologist;’ by the indexes
of the latter I find he sent thirteen communications to
the first volume, three to the second, one to the fourth,
thirteen to the fifth, and forty-three to the sixth; during
the present year his writings appear in every number. I
intended to catalogue these, and his other labours, to give
some idea of the number of pages, number of species, and
dates of each; but I can scarcely now venture to look
forward to the accomplishment of this labour of love.

A word remains to be spoken of the man apart from the
scientific and accomplished naturalist. Throughout my long
life I have never met with anyone who possessed more
correct, more diversified, or more general information, or
who imparted that information to others with greater readi-
ness and kindness; I have never met with anyone more
unassuming, more utterly unselfish, more uniformly kind and
considerate to all with whom he came in contact. Itis no
ordinary happiness to have enjoyed the friendship of such a
man for nearly half a century—Hdward Newman.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Nos.186&137.] DECEMBER, MDCCCLXXIV. [Paice Is.

Descriptions of Oak-galls. Translated from Dr. G. L. Mayr’s
‘Die Mitteleuropadischen Hichengallen’ by Mrs. Hubert
HERKOMER née WEISE.

19. Cynips Lignicola.—This gall,
which is extremely abundant in
Austria and Hungary, is usually
developed from the axillary buds
of Quercus sessiliflora and Q. pe-
dunculata, and sometimes, although
less frequently, from terminal buds
also. It is generally rather larger
than a pea, measuring more than a
centimetre in diameter; but we
have occasionally met with speci-
mens no more than five millemetres
in diameter. It is of a spherical
form, and usually of a ferruginous-
red colour, less commonly brown-
yellow or blackish red-brown: it is
enclosed in a hoary encasement,
which, however, is wanting in some
parts, having been ruptured by the
enlargement of the gall. In other
specimens, especially larger ones,
portions only of this hoary encase-
ment remain at the base of the gall,
in which case certain markings, Cysres Lrenrcona.
usually concealed beneath the mar-
gin of the encasement, become visible. The interior of the
gall consists of a tolerably hard, rust-coloured substance or

VOL, VII. 2m

266 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

parenchyma, closely adherent to the wall of the contained
larva-cell, which is situated near the basal attachment of the
gall; the wall of the larva-cell is of a yellowish white colour.
The gall attains its maturity late in the autumn, but is not
deciduous. When kept in-doors during the winter the perfect
insect emerges in April, but in the open air it does not make
its appearance until May or June.—G. LZ. Mayr.

Fig. 20.

CYNIPS CONGLOMERATA (and in section).

20. Cynips conglomerata.—This gall generally occurs in
clusters on dwarf bushy plants of Quercus sessiliflora and
Q. pedunculata, and less commonly on similar plants of
Q. pubescens. Each gall is about the size of a large pea,
and, especially when solitary, is spherical in form, but when
a number are clustered together, and appressed to one
another, the sides of each separate gall become flattened
where they meet, and the galls often become somewhat
confluent at the base: in such instances they frequently

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 267

deviate more or less from a strictly spherical contour. These
galls are not very hard; they are smooth, and of a green
colour, but become dingy yellowish brown towards autumn.
When of normal form each gall has a small pseudo-stigma
{ombilic] exactly opposite the point of attachment at the
base: similar processes, however, frequently make their
appearance on other parts of the surface; and again some-
times they are entirely absent. In section these galls, when
recent, exhibit a layer of green bark, which subsequently
becomes hard and brown. ‘The interior consists of a spongy
parenchyma, which, in recent specimens, exhibits a greater or
smaller number of green spots. The inner gall is situated
under the pseudo-stigma [ombilic], when this exists, and is
closely adherent to its surroundings. The perfect insect
generally emerges in November. In many cases the galls of
Cynips conglomerata may be mistaken for those of C. Ligni-
cola, but are always to be distinguished by their green
colour until late in the autumn, when they become of a
somewhat yellowish brown tint: the frequent presence of the
pseudo-stigma, the two different kinds of reticulation in the
interior, and in many instances the position of the inner
gall close to the pseudo-stigma, serve to distinguish it from
that of C. Lignicola. This gall is sometimes so abundant
that the young crippled shoots of the oak-bushes are thickly
sprinkled with them.—G. L. Mayr.

Life-histories of Saw/flies. ‘Translated from the Dutch of
M.S. C. SNELLEN VAN VOLLENHOVEN by J. W. May, Esq.

(Continued from p, 255.)

SELANDRIA ANNULIPES, Klug.

Imago: Klug, die Blattwespen nach ihren Gattungen und
Arten in Der Gesellsch. Naturf. Freunde zu Berlin
Magazin, &c., 8er Jahrg. p. 70, No. 49; Hartig, Blatt-
und Holzwespen, p. 279, No. 46.

Larva: Ratzeburg, Die Forstinsecten, Th. iii. p. 130, No. 39;
at. 115 5,,7.

268 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Selandria parva, nigra, nitida, tibiarum tarsorumque basi
alba, alis fusco-nigris, apice hyalinis. -

A glance at our engraving will show that we have here to
do with an insect related to Selandria zthiops, Z., the well-
known caterpillar of the pear-tree; indeed, Ratzeburg’s
description of the one follows immediately upon that of the
other. In a systematic arrangement, however, they would
not be placed so near together; they are in the same genus
of Hartig, but, on account of the difference in the neuration
of the wings, not in the same division: this may suggest the
question whether the divisions of this author, according to
the neuration, are always equally natural,—a question which
I hope to answer, if 1 succeed in rearing a third species of
caterpillar (nut-brown, living on the oak).

At the end of May, 1866, [ took a female of Selandria
annulipes, on a lime-tree in my garden, after the insect had
been flying about for some time in the sunshine among the
large leaves of that tree. On the 8th of June following I
perceived some very small caterpillars on the under side of
a leaf of the same tree (see fig. 1,a,a,a): not far from each
of these larvee was a little pocket, formed of the skin of the
leaf (fig. 1, 0, b, 6), of a very pale green, and having a little
hole bitten out of the middle; in these pockets the eggs had
been placed, from which the larvae had emerged. Ratzeburg
has made precisely the same observation, as appears in his
work, referred to at the head of this paper. The larve
gnawed little pieces out of the under epidermis and
parenchyma of the leaf, as represented at fig. 2, magnified,
so that the leaf on which they lived was speedily covered
above and below with little brown spots, where the cuticle
only was left. Afterwards, when many larve have damaged
the leaf in this way, it dies and curls up, which has induced
Ratzeburg to class Selandria annulipes as specially injurious
in gardens.

My young larve were very shining, as if they had been
covered with varnish: they were of a very pale gray, with
nut-brown heads; the anterior segments of the body were
broad, narrowing posteriorly; the broad intestinal canal,
which was of a green colour, showed through the body, and
had a black longitudinal line at the end, which was simply
the excrement seen through the skin. I counted twenty-two

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 269

legs:* the thoracic legs had gray rings at the base; the
abdominal legs -were moderately large, becoming smaller
towards the tail; but the last pair in these young larve was
only to be detected with difficulty.

On the 14th of June the largest larva had grown to the
length of a centimetre (fig. 3); figs. 4 and 6 represent it
somewhat magnified. The colour of the little animal, which
was very viscid, was a sordid yellow, in which the dark
green intestine showed out distinctly. When viewed from
above, the head appears of a purplish tint, and at the same
time one seems to see an indication of two legs on either side,
in consequence of the transparency of the skin at the side of
the anterior segments. Looked at from the front, while it
feeds, the larva has the appearance of fig. 6: it moves its
head right and left for the purpose of eating, and looks then
something like a grazing cow lying on its belly. The head
is nut-brown, flat anteriorly, and covered for a great part by
the skin of the Ist segment; the vertex is blackish, and, as
the skin by which it is covered is yellowish, it shows through
purple, according to the law of complementary colours. The
eyes are in oval black spots at the sides; the horns, or
feelers, below the eyes, are pretty long. The first pair of legs
is of a yellowish colour; the second and third gray, with
white rings; the claws were placed at right angles on the last
joint of the tarsi.

The beautiful appearance of the white air-tubes, which
could be seen through the skin, was very remarkable: this
was specially visible in the last two segments, when the
branching of the trachex appeared, as represented at fig. 5
somewhat more highly magnified. When they were not
feeding they bent the head forward, nearly flat against the
surface of the leaf, which almost entirely deprived them of the
appearance of living animals. No trace of hair was to be
seen ; and in the examples which came under my observation
I could perceive nothing of the stellate brown hairs, which
Ratzeburg states that he observed in the case of a single
individual of the autumn brood. The larve crept into the
ground to undergo their change; and I am unaware whether
they made cocoons or not.

* I may here mention that the brown caterpillar of S. ethiops, which,
according to Réaumur, De Geer, and Hartig, has twenty legs, has in like
manner twenty-two, but often retracts one or two pairs under the skin.

270 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

The development of the imagos followed pretty speedily.
On the morning of the 6th of July I found two males had
come out; another appeared on the 7th, two on the 9th, and
so on up to seven,—these were all males: they were all much
smaller than the female I had taken on the lime-tree just
after she had deposited her eggs, or, to speak more precisely,
just before I saw the freshly-produced larve; as to colour
and other characteristics they completely resembled the
females.

The female in question is represented at fig. 7. Head and
thorax shining black, clad with a fine brown pubescence;
mandibles ferruginous, with black tips. The antenne are
black, somewhat hairy ; the first two joints cup-shaped, not
very small; the third nearly half as long again as the first
two joints together, ending obliquely at the apex; the fourth
not more than two-thirds of the preceding joint, the remainder
diminishing regularly in length and breadth; the last joint
conical. ‘I'he abdomen rather broad, shining black, without
hair. As regards the legs, the coxe and trochanters are
black; the femora of the first pair black, with a rather broad
pale red spot on the knees ; those of the second pair have the
spot smaller; the femora of the last pair are entirely black.
The anterior tibia are brownish yellow, white at the base;
those of the second pair somewhat darker at the apex ; the
tibiz of the last pair are black, with the base obscure white ;
the tarsi are respectively of the colour of the tibiz to which
they belong. In the living insect the wings are purplish
black ; in the dead insect brown, with the exception of the
apex, which is white and transparent. In the second and
third submarginal cells are some black horny dots; the
anterior portion of the anal cell (area lanceolata) has an
oblique transverse nervure. The insect was only six mille-
metres long, expanding to eleven millemetres.

The males only differed in being much smaller (four
millemetres), having proportionately longer antenne, and in
having merely narrow white rings on the tibiz and tarsi of
the posterior legs.

Ratzeburg considers that in favourable years this species
may produce three generations; and I am quite of his
opinion. Supposing the first imagos to appear, in warm
seasons, in the beginning of May, then the second brood

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 971

would appear by the middle of June, and the third in
August. Ido not even see why there should not be four
generations, although I admit there ‘is little chance of it in
our climate.

In conclusion, I must remark that Ratzeburg has made a
slip of the pen in stating that the “black-gray smoky wings
are lightest at the base and darkest at the apex:” it must
evidently be just the reverse. It is, moreover, somewhat
singular that, having reared the insect, he makes no mention
of the male. Can it be that my having reared a brood of
males is to be regarded as a rare occurrence? It is well
known that in the case of the sawflies the females occur in
much preponderating numbers ; even in some not rare species
the males are to this moment quite unknown.

Netherland Insects. Translated from the Dutch of CHRISTIAN
SEPP by Epwin BIRCHALL, Esq.
(Continued from p. 154.)

“De KLEINE GESTREEPTE WITJES-VLINDER.”
The small, striped, white butterfly (Pieris Napi).

Havine now before me the task of describing a butterfly of
the second order, it seems to me best to state something
beforehand about the character of these insects. In the first
section, about the butterflies of the first order, I named the
common character, which all butterflies have in caterpillar
and pupa, both in the first and second orders; consequently
it is unnecessary to repeat this in the present chapter; but,
as I then gave the peculiar character of caterpillar, pupa, and
fly, of the first order, so now I give herewith the character of
caterpillar, pupa, and fly, of the second order :—

(1) The eggs, out of which these insects take their begin-
ning, have not all the same form: some are longish, and
pointed at the upper end, others round; and of these some
are round like a ball, others round like a plate, some smooth,
and others rough; in colour they incline to white and
yellowish chiefly.

(2) The caterpillars of this order have no spikes, but
mostly very fine, short hairs.

972 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

(8) Their heads are round.

(4) The especial character of this order is the way in
which the caterpillars prepare themselves for the change
into the pupa, as in this they differ from all other caterpillars,
either of day or night moths; for, besides, like the cater-
pillars of the first order, attaching their hinder part firmly by
means of a fine web to the place where they are about to
undergo the change, they stretch across the middle of their
body a thread, which they attach firmly on the other side of
their body: and this cross-thread, or band, is an unfailing
characteristic by which these caterpillars, when undergoing
the change, can be distinguished from all others.

(5) The pupz of this order are not all of one shape: some
have points or projections, and are thus similar to those of
the first order, although the points of the former are
differently placed from those of the latter; others are without
points, and thus resemble more the pupz of moths.

(6) But the surest characteristic of the pupz of this second
order is the above-named cross-thread, or band, by which
they may be distinguished from all other pup of day and
night moths.

(7) The butterflies of the second order have six perfect
feet, and are by this means easily to be distinguished from
the butterflies of the first order.

(8) Their under wings are proportionately smaller than
those of the butterflies of the first order, as the latter always
cover their bodies with their wings when in a state of rest,
but the former only very seldom, ifatall..........

§ 1.—Let us now proceed to the description of the present
example,—the small, striped, white butterfly. But some will
say—Is it worth while to trouble oneself with such a trifle?
Is it fitting that man should make for himself work by
enquiring about vermin? Fie! away with this excrement of
Nature! Should we occupy our leisure hours with such
trash? It may be said that vermin are found amongst the
works of the Creator, but what need is there to honour them
by curious research and description? Such, alas, is the evil
talk of some, whenever they are asked to contemplate the
works of God, and especially those works which, according
to their narrow notions, are despicable. What a lamentable
way of talking! No wonder that that great zealot for the

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 273

honour of God, the highly-gifted Brocks,* has alluded to
such people in a trenchant, though short, poem, in order, if
possible, to bring them to repentance.
“ Saint John says well, that if a man shall say,

‘TI love the Lord,’ and yet shall love his brother not,

He is indeed

Most worthily

A liar called ;

For he who hates his brother whom he sees,

And whom before his eyes for proof has got,

How can he then loye God, whom he sees not?

And Nature’s book, too, says, if any say,

‘T honour God,’ whom in His works he honours not,
He is indeed
Most worthily

A liar called;

For he who holds the works of God unfit

For careful thought, although he sees them plain,
How can he honour God, whom he sees not?”

Truly, the contempt which a man has for the creature is a
clear proof of contempt for the Creator himself: for whosoever
shall despise the Master’s work, which is wrought out in
every part perfect and with excellent wisdom, he despises
indeed the Master himself. Let no man advance here the
argument that a difference must be made between one creature
and another, and that the most despicable need not be
regarded. Nothing throughout Nature is low. I say that the
great Creator has made nothing which is unworthy of our
observation and admiration. Is there a lower object than a
grain of sand? And yet what a wonder-work of the Most
High; for no mortal, however ingenious and powerful he be,
can make even that out of nothing. How much rather
should we wonder in abasement whenever we attentively
observe a despised insect? A thoughtful mind perceives as
much art, wisdom, and might, in the construction of the
smallest fly, as in that of the largest elephant; for it would
be more possible (or it would at least seem more easy of
comprehension) for a man to make an elephant than to
produce a minute animal, such as a fly, and supply it with
eyes, mouth, heart, lungs, belly, and other internal and
outward parts, and everything else most perfectly prepared.
But why do I talk of the smallest fly or other insect? The

* In his ‘Irdisch Vergniigen in Gott.,’ p. 534, of the fourth Hamb. edition.
2N

274 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

sharp-sighted Lewenhoek has discovered insects, through
his microscope, each of which is a hundred million times
smaller than a grain of sand. ..... . But far, very
far, be it from any man to consider such a seemingly unim-
portant creature unworthy of his observation, for it might
serve to turn our thoughts back from it to its Almighty
Creator. Is it not true that men admire mucl the buildings
of princely houses and courts: men have the greatest esteem
for their architects, and willingly concede to them art and
ingenuity; but sound reason proves to us that all the most
glorious palaces of the whole world, nay, all works of art and
science, made by man, are not at all to be compared to the
construction of one such animal; for from them streams
forth a wisdom and omnipotence, before which all man’s
wisdom and power dwindles into a shadow....... Is
it not, therefore, very becoming that a man should spend his
leisure time, or, at any rate, some of it, in contemplation of
the animal kingdom? Let a man, I say, fix his attention
upon these wonders of the Highest Wisdom. But consider,
that such a living speck of dust,—what do [ say '—that such
a living being, many thousand times smaller than a speck of |
dust, is supplied with the utmost perfection, not only of the
outward parts,—with their skins, joints, tendons, &c., and
thus placed in the position of a being able to move quicker
than many of the largest animals,—but also with everything
that is necessary to the internal arrangement and the circula-
tion of the fluids, without which no organized being can
exist: and still the whole animal above named is a hundred
thousand times smaller than a grain of sand; but think how
many million times smaller than the animal must that be out
of which it was made. Let us observe, also, in considering
this amazing, this unspeakable smallness, that care is taken
for the continuation of such (as it were) invisible creatures,
and our thoughts must be silenced in amazement. What
think you, worthy reader, are they not the works of art of a
boundless omnipotence, conceptions of an unsearchable
wisdom, proofs of an endless goodness? Do we not find in
these trifling things a most convincing proof of the infinite
greatness of Him who made them out of uothing? In short,
do they not convince us of the truth that there is a God?
Now, I ask whether the contemplation of such seemingly

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 275

insignificant creatures is trifling and useless? and whether
they do not lead us up to a knowledge of our adorable
Creator? Let us, then, following the steps of those who
honour God in his works, walk boldly forward to inspect the
insect-world, Behold, here, the history, or way of life, of an
insect, in the person of a butterfly of the second order.

§ 2.—Of the white butterflies, four sorts are known to me,
namely :—the large butterfly, Pieris Brassice; the small
butterfly, P. Rapz; the great striped butterfly, (?) P. Dapli-
dice, which I have not seen in this country, but Dr. Résel
has described and drawn it in the first part of his ‘ Insecten-
Belustigung,’ p. 45, of the second collection; and the small
striped butterfly, P. Napi, which that author has not in his
work. The last-named insect shall for the present occupy
my pen. This butterfly is one of the first to show itself in
the spring, but not one of the commonest, as it is not found
nearly so frequently as the large and small butterfly. It lays
its eggs singly, and leads a lonely life in the caterpillar state.
During all the time that I have occupied myself with the
study of insects, it has only once happened that I have been
able to secure a single egg of this insect. My son found it,
about the end of May, on the downs, near Haarlem, on
a leaf of one of the wild kails....... I am strongly of the
opinion that the insect deposits its eggs on other plants. -
The egg above named was placed on the under side of the
leaf. . . . . . . Its shape is longish, inclined towards a point
at the top; by the under or broader side it is gummed on to
the leaf; and thus, like pretty nearly all butterfly-eggs, it has
the point always turned away from the leaf....... It has
twelve ribs, of which six run out nearly at the top, and the
other six alternately a little lower. Cross over, in the circum-
ference from the top to the bottom, it is banded with a great
number of slightly-embossed stripes. Itis shiny, and of a
whitish yellow colour, having thus, when seen through a
microscope, a beautiful appearance.

§ 3.—A couple of days after I got the egg I observed that
its brightness quite disappeared, and that it became dull in
colour; whereupon, in about the course of one day, the
caterpillar appeared, and in the first place ate up the top of
its egg half-way. The little animal was thus of a whitish
colour, and, through the microscope, appeared all over shiny

276 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

and transparent, stuck over with a few fine hairs. As soon
as the caterpillar began to graze upon the leaf it became a
little greener; and when it had become one or two days old
it gave up eating the leaf anywhere but on the edge, or else
it made holes in it. Four days after its birth it moulted for the
first time, and shortly afterwards ate the skin thrown off; and
this it did on every following occasion. Then it still appeared,
under the microscope, quite shiny, as before, especially its
head, was as transparent as glass; and that, as well as the
whole caterpillar, set with single, black, stiff, little hairs,
standing chiefly on white knobs, and the rest on black spots.
Moreover, it had round about it a great number of black
spots, following the course of the above-named rings; but
these and the white knobs were so uncommonly fine that one
could only distinguish them by aid of the microscope, melting
away, as it were, into the green ground of the colour of the
caterpillar, whereby the animal appeared to the naked eye of
a pale green, and became paler as it grew larger and older.
Our caterpillar, after having moulted three times more, at
intervals of about four days, remained, after the last moult,
six days eating and growing, and reached its maturity
on the twenty-second day. .... . . Here I beg to
remark that, at first sight, there is such a great likeness
between this sort of caterpillar and that of the ordinary small
butterfly, P. Rapz, that one can hardly distinguish one from
the other, unless one pay attention to two characteristics,
which do not at all strike the eye at first, to wit—over the
back of the small butterfly caterpillar runs a very faint, pale
yellow stripe, which is not the case with the caterpillar
under discussion; further, the spiracles of this caterpillar are
surrounded by a little yellow ring, which is wanting in the
kind before named, but in the same place both of them have
a short yellow stripe near the spiracle. In all other respects
these two kinds of caterpillar are exactly alike.

§ 4.—Our caterpillar having, as we said, reached the age
of twenty-two days, forsook its usual haunts and food, seeking
a suitable place for its coming change; and, having found
this, it remained quiet for half a day. After that it spun
itself fast, the same day, in the usual manner of the butterfly
caterpillars of the second order, to wit—having fastened its
hinder end, by means of a fine web, it spun across its body a

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 277

thread, which, though composed of several threads, was
uncommonly fine, and thinner than a hair; thus it lay,
patiently waiting for its change. Meanwhile it curled itself
somewhat more together, or became a little shorter and
thicker, and the following day changed itself into a pupa....
Between this pupa and that of the small white butterfly there
is likewise scarcely any difference, but the former is some-
what more yellowish and less speckled than the latter. In the
course of eight days our pupa changed in colour, and was
strikingly yellower: at last the wings of the butterfly began
actually to appear through the pupal case.

§ 5.—Finally, after our insect had passed ten days in the
pupal state it appeared in its last, or glorious form, being now
a perfect butterfly, which, although it had no gleaming colours,
charmed the eye by its beautiful whiteness, coupled with
modest yellow, which set off strongly its black ornaments;
or with its wings folded over its back, with their under side
striped with a greenish gray; which has given occasion to the
name of the insect. I beg further to make the observation,
that this insect is found twice a year, namely, spring and
summer.

The Classification of the Rhynchophorous Coleoptera.*
By Joun L. Leconte, M.D.

(Reprinted from the ‘American Naturalist’ for July, 1874.]

AT a meeting of the Academy held in Washington,
January, 1867, I had the honour to offer some remarkst
upon the systematic value of the great complex of Coleopterous
insects known as Rhynchophora.

It was my intention, as then stated, to follow the memoir
just mentioned with another, in which the classification of
the Rhynchophora and separation into families should be
discussed, in the hope of developing a more satisfactory
system of arrangement than had been thus far obtained.

Circumstances have prevented me from following this
particular line of investigation, to a definite result, until

* Read before the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, April 21,

1874.
+ ‘Am. Jour. Science and Arts,’ xliv.; July, 1867.

278 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

within a short time, though it has frequently occupied my
attention for brief intervals. The time, however, has not
been altogether lost, for I found that, with each return to the
investigation, 1 obtained an additional, though small, insight
into the constitution of this complex, which has been the
subject of repeated efforts by the most laborious and
successful students of Entomology in Europe.

The bases of the classification of the Rhychophora, which
have been proposed, are briefly these :—

I. Schonherr* treated the great mass of these insects
(excludiug only the Scolytide) as constituting a single
family, divided as follows :—

A. Antenne not geniculate; antennal grooves
wanting. - - - - - ORTAOCERI.
Bruchides, Anthribides, Camarotides, At-
telabides, Rhinomacerides, Ithycerides,
Apionides, Rhamphides, Brenthides, Cy-
lades, Ulocerides, Oxyrhyuchides.
B. Antenne geniculate; grooves almost always
distinct. - - - - - GONATOCERI.
a. Rostrum short, deformed; antennze
subterminal. - - - Brachyrhynchi.
* Antennal grooves extending below the eyes;
Brachycerides, Entimides, Pachyrhynchides,
Brachyderides, Cleonides, Molytides, Byrso-
pides (the last with the rostrum received in
aprosternal excavation).
** Antennal grooves directed towards the eye;
Phyllobiides, Cyclomides, Otiorhynchides.
b. Beak cylindrical, slender; antenne
inserted far behind the tip.
Erirhinides, Cholides, Crypto-
rhynchides, Cionides, Rhyncho-
phorides, Conoderides, Cossonides,
Dryophthorides. - - - Mecorhynchi.

In the gradual progress of the work this last legion, the

Mecorhynchi, were divided into Synmerides, having the

front cox contiguous, and Apostasimerides, having them

distant. The distinctions between the tribes above mentioned

were founded mostly on insignificant and evanescent modifi-

cations in the form of beak and antenne; so that with the
* «Genera et Species Curculionidum ;’ Paris, 1833—1844,

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 279

immense mass of genera and species described, it became
quite impossible to determine either from the work itself.

II. Although the faults found with this artificial system
were neither few nor vaguely expressed, yet it was not until
the progress (1863) of his admirable work on the ‘ Genera of
Coleoptera, by my deceased friend Prof. Lacordaire, required
this immense labour to be done over again, that any attempt
was made at a new arrangement. The system of Lacordaire
was essentially this:—The series was divided into six
families,—Curculionide, Bruchide, Anthribide, Brenthide,
Uloceride, and Scolytide: of these the Bruchide were
recognized as having scarcely any relations with the other
families, and pertaining rather to the Chrysomelide, with
which they have since been associated by most authors.
The Bruchidz and Anthribide were characterized by having
a distinct labrum; the Scolytide by the compressed and
dentate tibiz ; while the Brenthide were separated rather by
form than by any distinct structural character. The Curcu-
lionidze were then divided, according to the size of the
mentum, into—

I. Mentum closing the buccal space, and con-
cealing the maxille. . : - ADELOGNATHI.
Eyes rounded; prothoracic lobes indistinct. | Cyclophthalmes.

Hyes large, depressed, transverse, narrowed

below; prothoracic lobes well marked. - | Oxyophthalmes.
IT. Mentum smaller; maxille visible. - - PHANEROGNATHI.
A. Front coxe contiguous, or nearly so. - Synmerides.

a, Pygidium covered by the elytra;
claws not appendiculate.
Metasternum short; episterna narrow.
Gular peduncle wanting.
Gular peduncle distinct.
Metasternum long; episterna rather wide.
Antenne geniculate.
Antenne straight.
_b. Pygidium exposed, or claws ap-
pendiculate.
Ventral segments not angulated at the sides.
Ventral segments angulated.
B. Front coxe separated by the pro-
sternum, which is frequently chan-
nelled for the reception of the beak. § Apostasimerides.

280 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

a. Oral organs normal. Club of
antenne annulated; third
joint of tarsi bilobed.

Mesothoracic epimera not ascending.
Mesothoracic epimera ascending.

b. Oral organs abnormal ; first joint
of antennal club usually very
large, corneous; third joint
of tarsi rarely bilobed.

Pygidium exposed.
Pygidium covered by elytra.

Each of these divisions contains several tribes differentiated
by characters of smaller importance, and not unfrequently
indefinite.

III. The next attempt at a general classification was made
by Mr. H. Jekel.* This excellent author recognized with
great clearness, and defined with tolerable precision, the
following eight principal types among the Rhynchophora:—
Bruchides, Anthribides, Attelabides, Curculionides, Calan-
drides, Cossonides, Scolytides, and Brenthides. The last-
cited memoir is occupied chiefly with a further development
of the classification of the largest of these, the Curculionides
proper ; and in it he proceeds to separate, as sub-families,t—
Brachycerides, Brysopides, and Amycterides: epigeal forms,
in which the tarsi are not dilated, and not furnished with
brush-like hairs beneath. Having thus isolated them, the
great mass remaining is divided into—

Body dissimilar in form, male and female ; narrower

in male. - - - - - PLATYGNES.

Beak similar in both sexes. - - - Homorhines.

Beak dissimilar. - - - - LHeterorhines.
Body nearly or quite of the same form, male and

female.

Pygidium covered by the oe body peminose

or pubescent. - Iso@ynzs.
Pygidium exposed or comand body squa-

mose, &c. - - - - METRIOGYNES.

* Annales Ent. Soc. France, 1864, p. 537; Ins. Saundersiana, 155 sqq.,

1860.

+ Mr. Jekel gives to the auomalous groups this subordinate position,
rather, as he says, ‘‘ Pour ne pas heurter les idées généralement admises,”
than in accordance with his own views, which would lead him to regard them
as I have done,—as genuine families.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 281
Pygidium covered. - - : - Cryptopyges.
Pygidium exposed. - ; - - Gymnopyges.

The principal types contained in each of these three grand
divisions are then characterized in a very clear manner; but
for a proper understanding of this system, a vast improvement
on all that preceded, the reader must refer to the original
memoir. In developing the arrangement of the tribes repre-
sented in our Fauna, | shall be largely indebted to the views
expressed in this most valuable memoir of Mr.Jekel. ‘There
remain to be mentioned two Faunal contributions to the
history of this subject :—

1. A series of remarks by Mr. Suffrian,* in which the
German species of several genera, not before carefully
studied, are more fully elucidated, and various criticisms
upon Schoénherr’s system made.t The necessity of a more
careful study of the tibiz and tarsi, almost neglected by
Schoéuherr, is insisted on, and an arrangement of the German
genera in groups upon these characters is given.

2. That most admirable work of Prof. C. G. Thomson,f{ to
which no entomologist ever refers without finding original
material by which he can profit; a remarkable instance of
the good results to be obtained by a careful and intelligent
study of a very limited Fauna. The Rbhynchophorous series
is divided as follows :—

Segments of the abdomen immovable; 2nd and

3rd nearly equal. - - - - TsoToMA.
Bruchidz, Anthribide (including Urodon), Rhino-

maceride, Attelabide.
Abdomen with the 1st and 2nd segments connate ;

the remaining three movable; the 2nd usually

much longer than the 3rd. - - - ANISOTOMA.
Apionid, Curculionids, Cossonide (including

Calandra), Tomicide.

From a survey of the different schemes of arrangement,
which have been thus briefly reviewed, it is evident that
while the principal types of the Rhynchophorous series, and
the main divisions of the great family Curculionide have

* «Bermerkungen iiber einige deutsche Riisselkifer: Stettin, Ent. Zeitsch,’
1.—1x.

+ See specially op. cit., 1847, 157.

{ ‘Skandinaviens Coleoptera,’ vii., Lund. 1865.

282 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

been clearly perceived, the attempts to define these important
forms have failed in a greater or less degree, on account of
the want of proper subordination in the characters made use
of: all of them natural, all of them important, though in a
less degree than supposed by the expounder of each
particular system.

To supplement the memoirs above referred to, there came,
in more recent times, the beginning of a systematic study of
our species of Curculionide, by Dr. George H. Horn, a
careful and conscientious study of the Calandride and
Cossonidz, and of some Mecorhynch genera of the United
States.* In the introductory remarks he observes:— One
character is mentioned in the following pages that appears to
have escaped notice. In most, if not all, of the genera of
Mecorhynques, the males have eight, and the females seven
dorsal abdominal segments. The Calandrides and Cosso-
nides appear not to possess this character, as also all the
Brachyrhynques which I have had time to examine.”

The value of this original observation of Dr. Horn is very
great, but the limitation which he has placed upon it, though
correct as regards the Calandride and Cossonide types, is
erroneous as regards the Brachyrhyncs, which have the
abdominal sexual characters precisely as in the genera in
which he first observed them. So, too, have the Brenthide,
and all the anomalous sub-families of Curculionide in the
Jekelian system. It appears, therefore, that this peculiarity
of structure is of much more importance than was supposed
by Dr. Horn, and, that it must in reality be the defining
character for the division of the Rhynchophora into primary
series, of more than family value. I therefore prepared a
series of dissections of each of the well-recognized Rhyncho-
phorous types within my reach, and have come to the
conclusion that they may be arranged in three sets, each of
which has a corresponding value to the individual series of
normal Coleoptera (e.g. Adephaga, Clavicornia, Lamelli-
cornia, &c.); and upon subordinate characters (some of
which have been already employed in the classifications
above mentioned, though in an empirical manner) into
families, as follows.

* «Contributions to a Knowledge of the Curculionids of the United
States.” (Proc. Am. Philosophical Soe. 1873, 407.)

i

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 283

Series 1. HAPLOGASTRA.

Abdomen alike in both sexes; dorsal segments seven,
coriaceous, with the exception of the 7th, which forms the
pygidium, and which is small and corneous; ventral
segments not prolonged upwards into a sharp edge; elytra
without lateral fold on the inner surface; epipleurz usually
distinct; antenne straight, 11-jointed; ungues usually bifid
or toothed, rarely (Rhinomacer) simple; front coxz conical,
prominent; prosternum very short in front of the coxe; the
beak varies in length and thickness, but not according to
sex, so far as I know; the front coxe are contiguous, except
in one genus of Rhynchitide (Pterocolus); the ventral
sutures of the abdomen are straight; the mandibles and
tibia vary in form, and furnish convenient characters for
division into families :—

A. Ventral segments nearly equal in length;

epipleural indistinct; tibial spurs small ;

claws simple (always ?). Mandibles simple,

flat; labrum distinct. — - - - Ra#INoMACERIDEZ.
B. Ventral segments diminishing in length;

epipleuree distinct; labrum wanting ;

claws bifid, or appendiculate.

Mandibles flat, toothed on each side; tibial

spurs small. - - - - RHYNCHITIDA.
Mandibles stout, pincer-shaped ; tibial spurs
large. - - - - - ATTELABID&.

The affinities of this series are in an ascending direction
with the rostrated Heteromera (Oedemeride and Pythide):
this is indicated by the softer tissues in Rhinomaceride,
and certain Rhynchitide, and also by the presence of a
labrum in the former. In a descending direction the Attela-
bide lead to the true Curculionide, and the Rhynchitide to
the Belidx, the last family in the third series of Rhyn-
chophora. The habits of the species of this series are
peculiar, and quite different from those of the next series,
and indicate, as is wisely observed by Lacordaire,* for the
care of their progeny, an industry which appears here for
the first time in the family. I cannot describe the results
of this instinctive or intelligent industry better than by

* Gen. Col. vi. 543.

284 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

condensing the account of the author just cited, referable,
however, to European species.

1. Rhinomaceride.—The European species deposits the
eggs in the male flowers of Pinus maritimus, the development
of which is thus prevented. I may be allowed to observe
that this synthetic genus, the nearest approach in the
Rhynchophora to the lower Heteromera, and therefore the
representative of old forms clings to an old and synthetic
type of vegetation.

2. Ehynchitide.—Some of the species of Rhynchites roll
leaves in the manner of the next family; others deposit their
eggs in young fruit, the kernel of which is eaten by the
larva; others, again, place the eggs in the undeveloped buds
of trees, which are thus destroyed.

3. Attelabide.—In the spring the females roll up the
leaves of the trees, and deposit in each an egg. After
emerging from the egg the young larve eat the inside layer
of the case which covers them, which they probably leave at
a later period, when their growth is complete, to perfect their
metamorphosis under ground.

These three families are of small extent, and but little need
be said regarding their classification.

RHINOMACERID.

This family is represented in our Fauna by two species,—
one on each slope of the Continent,—and is easily recognized
by the depressed, curved, and acute mandibles, and distinct
labrum. The pygidium is covered by the elytra, which are
punctured, without any appearance of striz. On the inner
face there is no trace of a lateral fold; the epipleure are
indistinct.

ATTELABIDA.

Four species of Attelabus on the Atlantic slope are the
only representatives thus far known in our Fauna. The beak
is stouter than in the preceding family, and the mandibles
thicker and stronger; the epipleure are quile distinct, and
there is no trace of a lateral fold on the inner face of the
elytra; the pygidium is not covered by the elytra, and is
impressed along its upper margin for the reception of the

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 285

apical edge of the elytra;* the tibia are armed with large
spurs.
RHYNCHITIDE.

The peculiar form of the mandibles requires the separation
of these genera as a distinct family. The teeth on the inner
side are well developed, as usual, but, in addition, the apex is
prolonged outwards into an acute process, behind which is
another large tooth ;+ the front coxe are usually contiguous,
large and conical,—in one genus (Pterocolus) widely sepa-
rated; the pygidium is either exposed (Rhynchites, Pterocolus)
or covered by the elytra (Eugnamptus, Auletes) ; the epipleura
are narrow, but distinct; and on the inner face of the elytra,
remote from the margin, may be seen a short, straight fold,
the homologue of the well-defined fold, which limits the
lateral groove for the reception of the side margin of the
ventral segments, observed in all the following families.

(To be continued.)

Mode of Oviposition in certain Lepidoptera. By the
Rey. P. H. JENNINGS.

I HAVE much pleasure in sending you a few notices of the
manner in which some moths deposit their eggs, together
with other items concerning them. If they are acceptable to
you, and you think will tend to general edification, | shall be
happy to send you more as occasion may offer. At the same
time, I should be very glad if others, interested in our favourite
pursuit, would give us the benefit of their experience. While
we all admire the beauty of the perfect insect, and desire to
store our cabinets with specimens in the finest condition
possible, yet how much more do we learn of the wonderful in
Nature from an acquaintance with the habits given to the
insect by its Almighty Creator, and exhibited both in the
larval and perfect state.

Crocallis elinguaria.—A wasted female, taken in August,

deposited forty-six eggs, of which some were laid on a sprig

* Compare in this relation the curious notch in the front part of the
pygidium of Anthribide, for the reception of the sutural angles of the elytra.

+ This character was first observed by Thomson, who observes (Sk. Col.
vi. 28), concerning his tribe Khynchitina, “ Mandibule depressee, extus
excise, intus dentate.”

286 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

of the food-plant, and some on the ground: they were in
patches, placed closely side by side. Those on the food-
plant were on the upper edge of the leaf, with one end
projecting outwards. In shape they resemble a brick, with
its edges and corners rounded off, perfectly smooth, and of a
dirty white colour.

Phybalapteryx vitalbata.—A female, taken on August 27th,
deposited twenty eggs on the food-plant, Clematis vitalba, of
which fifteen were laid on the under edge of the leaf, four on
the upper edge, and one on a foot-stalk. In shape oval,
flattened on the upper and under sides. ‘They were placed
generally lengthwise along the edge of the leaf, sometimes
attached end to end, slanting just sufficiently to allow of the
egress of the caterpillar, sometimes almost side by side, and
sometimes singly; the colour a very pale stone; large, for
the size of the insect, and perfectly smooth. The caterpillars
emerged in nine days, and have now (October 16th) all
disappeared but two.

Melanippe fluctuata.—A fresh female deposited, from
September 14th to 18th, seventy-three eggs, only three of
which were laid on the food-plant, seven on the glass-
cylinder, and the rest on the muslin cover. ‘Those on the
food-plant were on the edge of the leaf, two on the under
side, and one on the upper. In shape oval; perfectly smooth
and almost white, soon assuming a yellowish tinge. The
caterpillars emerged on the 24th, and have now, October 16th,
just moulted for the last time.

Tryphena fimbrian—A wasted female, taken at sugar,
September 12th, deposited, on the night of the 14th, three
hundred and forty-nine eggs, beautifully arranged side by
side on the under surface of a leaf of common sallow (Salix
caprea). Approaching the edge of the leaf, she discontinued
with the greatest regularity about the sixteenth of an
inch from it. The space towards the interior was entirely
filled up until the midrib was reached, which was carefully
passed over; with the exception of those laid on the other
side of it, not an egg was disconnected from the mass. They
were Echinus-shaped and longitudinally ribbed; in colour a
very faint yellow-green. The caterpillars emerged in about
ten days. .

Epunda lutulenta.—A female, taken at sugar, September
12th, deposited on the 13th one hundred and twenty-four

—

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 287

eggs, sixty-four of which were on the ground, and the rest on
the food-plant, common gromwell (Lithospermum arvense).
Those on the food-plant were almost all on the under side of
the leaf, and often in pairs or triplets, but otherwise very
much at random, there being no apparent order. Kchinus-
shaped, longitudinally ribbed. When fresh laid pale yellow
in colour, assuming a streaked reddish appearance on the
second day.

Orthosia Litura.—A female, taken at sugar, September
21st, deposited on the night of the 23rd one hundred and
forty-seven eggs, in a compact and orderly-arranged mass, on
the under surface of a leaf of common birch (Betula alba),
very similar in size and shape to those of E. lutulenta. In
colour, white when fresh laid; in a few hours the centre
assumed a shade of reddish brown, and a ring of the same
colour appeared round the middle. The caterpillars emerged
the first week in October.

Miselia Oxyacanthe.—A female, taken at sugar, October
12th, deposited twenty-nine eggs on the night of the 13th on
its food-plant, common whitethorn (Crategus Oxyacantha). In
colour a faint yellow-green. Echinus-shaped ; longitudinally
ribbed ; eight long and eight short ribs, the longer terminating
in a point, and giving the eggs a conical shape, and forming
an edge round a small crater. Most of them were laid
indiscriminately on the upper and under sides of the leaves,
singly, and near the edge; a few on the foot-stalk, just at the
base of the leaf, or at juncture with the twig, or just on the
twig itself.

Phlogophora meticulosa.—A female, taken at sugar,
October 14th, laid one hundred and thirty-three eggs on the
night of the 15th. In colour a faint yellow. LEchinus-
shaped ; longitudinally ribbed; rather depressed at the top;
ribs running up to the circumference of a small convexity.
All deposited at random: eighty-one on the muslin cover,
forty on the leaves of the food-plant, and twelve on the
ground, Those on the food-plant without any order: some
on the upper, some on the under side of the leaves, some on
the edge, some on the inner surface, and some on the foot-
stalk.

P. H. JENNINGs.
Longfield Rectory, Gravesend,
October 16, 1874.

288 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

Entomological Notes, Captures, &c.

Argynnis Niobe in Kent.—I should like to make a few
remarks in reference to the plan suggested by Mr. Clifford,
in the ‘ Entomologist’ for October (Entom. vii. 225), for dissi-
pating the doubts, which he says are still entertained by
some entomologists, as to the recent capture of Argynnis
Niobe in Kent. Mr. Clifford says:—“If the gentlemen who
have made acquaintance with Argynnis Niobe will associate
with themselves one or two entomologists of known skill in
larva-hunting, and, without indicating the precise position of
the valley or hollow between Wye and Ashford to the
entomological world generally, arrange to make a careful
united search for the larve of A. Niobe during the spring, we
may possibly get a result conclusive enough to satisfy all
sceptics.” Now it seems to me that if this plan were to be
adopted no satisfactory result could possibly be arrived at;
for if the larve were not found, there would be no proof that
they were not there ; and if found, there would be no evidence
how they came there. Some three or four years ago, while
beating for larve in the High Woods here, I beat from an
oak-tree a very large, handsome larva, that evidently belonged
to a species not included among our native Fauna. For a
moment I was completely puzzled, but immediately after-
wards remembered that Dr. Wallace had been turning out a
number of specimens of Bombyx Pernyi; and the mystery
was at once solved. Another collector shortly afterwards
beat three larve of this species, and later in the season
several cocoons were found on oak-trees in the same locality.
This seems to indicate that finding larve in a given locality
is not in itself a sufficient proof of their British origin. Even
if the eggs of Argynnis Niobe could be found laid naturally
on the wild heart’s-ease in the locality where the captures are
reported to have been made, the question of the authenticity
of the species would still remain exactly where it is now.
Here, the only locality for Melitaa Athalia is being rapidly
destroyed; and, fearing this pretty species should disappear
from our neighbourhood altogether, | employed a man, three
or four years ago, to collect all the larve he could find, and
turn them down in another locality, about a dozen miles off,
where the insect did not previously occur, but where the

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 289

food-plant abounds. In its new home the species has
increased to such an extent that this season | found it quite
common, and have no doubt that it will go on increasing
rapidly. Of course it could not do so without laying eggs;
and if eggs were found, would Mr. Clifford, or anybody else,
consider that fact a sufficient proof that the species was
native to the locality? Again, when collecting at Old Hall
Wood, near Ipswich, some time ago, I was told by an
Ipswich collector, whom I met there, that Limenitis Sibylla
did not occur in that particular wood till it was introduced by
an old collector, named Seaman, who brought a number of
living specimens from St. Osyth, and turned them down there.
Now, is it not possible that somebody may have “turned
down” continental Niobe in Kent, which have been “ turned
up” by somebody else? People on the Continent could
probably supply their English correspondents with eggs or
larve ; and if these were placed in favourable situations the
perfect insects might reasonably be expected in due season.
I do not, however, wish to express any definite opinion
as to this particular case of Niobe; for, notwithstanding the
scepticism to which Mr. Clifford alludes, its occurrence in
Kent may possibly be quite genuine; and my object in
writing is to warn entomologists against allowing themselves
to be deluded by sham “ proofs..—W. H., Harwood; St.
Peter’s Colchester,

Argynnis Lathonia and Catocala Fraxini near Canter-
bury.—I took a very fine specimen of Lathonia on the 3rd
of August, also one on the 13th, three on the 23rd, one on the
Ist of September, two on the 7th, and two on the 15th, at
Pelhatham and Swarling Downs. Also one specimen of
C. Fraxini in Pine Wood, where I have taken, in all, six in
seven years, but none good till this one, which I took on the
26th of September, almost equal to bred. I have showed it
alive to three or four gentlemen.—G. Parry; Chureh Street,
St. Paul's, Canterbury.

Do the Larve of Saturnia Carpini Hybernate ?—In
reference to the query in the October number of the ‘ Ento-
mologist’ (Entom. vii. 227) by Mr. Robinson- Douglas, as to
whether the larve of Saturnia Carpini hybernate, I may state
that in the spring of this year 1 had cocoons of 8S. Carpini,
from which the perfect insect emerged, and that I obtained

Qp

290 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

eggs, and finally larvee, about the 15th of April, and I would
suggest that the larve found by Mr. Robinson-Douglas in
June were hatched from eggs laid in the spring, and not
hybernated larve. I may also mention that I have two
chrysalids from the larvz I had hatched in the spring, from
which I expected the perfect insect to emerge last August or
September, but there seems no sign of such an occurrence
even now; and I suppose I must expect the perfect insect
to emerge next spring. But is not this very unusual? as I
shall have no autumn brood of Carpini.—George W. Oldfield ;
Castle House, Shrewsbury, October 2, 1874.

Deiopeia pulchella in Hampshire (Entom. vii. 259).—“ I
am the captor of D. pulchella, on the lst of October, 1818,
at Hurne, near Christchurch. It is the only one I ever took,
but I believe I saw two previously in September of the same
year, and passed them as common white moths, and indeed
was nearly passing the other, till it settled on the stubble so
often that I was induced to look at it, and was most wonder-
fully surprised, as it was an insect I could not fancy was
British. This was at six o'clock in the morning, and 1
immediately returned to the house, and, having set out the
moth, I wrote to Dr. Leach, who put it in Samouelle’s
‘Entomological Calendar””—The late J.C. Dale.—[{In a
letter addressed to Mr. Corbin, who remarks :—“ Fifty-six
years, to the very day, have elapsed between the two
captures.”—Edward Newman.]

Deiopeia pulchella and Cheerocampa Nerii near Lewes.—
On Friday, the 5th of June last, I took a fresh, though rather
pale specimen of Deiopeia pulchella in a field of trefoil; and
on the 3rd of September a relative of mine gave me a damaged
specimen of Chcrocampa Nerii, which he had taken at rest
in his garden in the middle of the town of Lewes. Is not the
capture of Pulchella in June a rather uncommon event ?—
Thomas Hillman; Delves House, Ringmer, near Lewes,
November 11, 1874.

Eupithecia Knautiata of Gregson (Entom. vii. 255) =
EE. minutata of Hiibner.—I have read with considerable
astonishment Mr. Gregson’s note on his supposed new
species of EKupithecia, which he proposes to call E. Knau-
tiata. I am wholly at a loss to know by what process of
reasoning Mr. Gregson has arrived at his conclusions. All
I can say is this,—I have had the Bolton insect in all its

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 29]

stages, from the egg up to the moth; and, after the most
careful consideration, I am convinced that it is nothing but
E. minutata. In this conclusion, I believe I am right in
saying, that Mr. Doubleday, Mr. Hellins, and Mr. Buckler,
who are no mean authorities, entirely concur.—[Rev.] H.
Harpur Crewe; Drayton Beauchamp Rectory, Tring,
November 2, 1874.

[I have received from Mr. Doubleday an opinion exactly
corresponding with Mr. Crewe’s.—H. Newman. |

Food-plant of Eupithecia innotata.—In the ‘Entomo-
logist’ for March of the present year (Entom. vii. 68), Mr.
Gregson states that he has for some time been acquainted
with the true E. innotata, and that he has taken both the
larva and the perfect insect at Wallasey: the former he says
feeds on mugwort (I suppose he means Artemisia vulgaris).
It may be so; but why does not Mr. Gregson send specimens
to Mr. Buckler, who has drawings of the larva of the true
Innotata, from specimens which | received from the Continent
and forwarded to him. Assertions of this kind, without
positive, ocular demonstrative proof, go for nothing at all.
On the Continent the food-plant of E. innotata is Artemisia
campestris: this plant is rare in England; it is, in fact, I
believe, confined to the sandy heaths of Norfolk and Suffolk,
where it grows in some abundance. During the last week in
August of the present year, Lord Walsingham, with whom I
was staying, kindly drove me over to Brandon, which is one
of the head-quarters of the plant. I carefully beat about half
a mile of flowers, but failed to find anything, except a few
larve of E. centaureata and E. absinthiata. Since my return
home, Mr. Williams, the rector of Croxton, near Thetford,
has, at my request, carefully searched the Artemisia campes-
tris in the neighbourhood of Thetford, but with no better
success. In the absence of further proof I am compelled,
with much reluctance, to come to the conclusion that
EK. innotata has not yet been ascertained with certainty to
occur in England. If Mr. Gregson will send me larve next
year, I shall be delighted to own myself mistaken.—[Rev.] H.
Harpur Crewe.

Contribution to the History of certain Lepidoptera:
Lithosia sericea, Hyria auroraria, Acidalia circellata,
A, subsericeata, and A. fumata.—Lithosia sericea (? Mo-
lybdeola): obtained a fine batch of eggs on the 6th of July ;

292 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

hatched in ten days; fed on knot-grass and lettuce; did not
thrive well, and when about half grown began to die off.
Hyria auroraria: eggs deposited on the 6th of July; hatched
in about nine days; larve fed on knot-grass; one imago
appeared on the 13th and one on the 16th of September. I
have a number of larve hybernating, some of which are
apparently full grown. Acidalia circellata: obtained five or
six eggs on the 6th of July, from which I bred four imagos;
eggs hatched in about eight days; larve thrive well on knot-
grass; the first moth emerged on the 7th September, the
others a few days later. A. subsericeata: eggs deposited freely
6th June; hatched in ten days; food, knot-grass ; commenced
pupation about 18th July; the first moth appeared 30th
July; bred a fine series. I have still a number of larvae,
apparently full grown, obtained from the same supply of
eggs. A. fumata: obtained a few eggs on the 6th July,
which hatched in seven days; fed on knot-grass ; most of the
larve died when full grown; a few are still alive. I have made
several attempts to carry this larva through the winter without
success.—R. Kay; 2, Spring Street, Bury, Nov. 6, 1874.

Tapinostola Bondi at Lyme Regis.—\u the September
number of the ‘ Entomologist’ (Entom. vii. 205) Mr. Tugwell
records the capture of this species at Lyme Regis, saying that
he thinks it a new locality for it. In this, however, he is
mistaken, as I met with the species there in July, 1863
(eleven years ago), and recorded its occurrence there in the
‘Zoologist’ for that year (p. 8861). Mr. Tugwell’s notice of
this insect is, however, of considerable interest, as it serves to
prove that it is still to be found at Lyme Regis as well as at
Folkestone, and probably at other places on the south coast.
—P.C. Wormald; 2, Clifton Villas, Highgate Hill, N.,
November 5, 1874.

Abundance of Polia flavocincta at Huddersfield.—On the
2nd and 38rd of October, Flavocincta was unusually numerous
at sugar here. The weather then became cold and wet, and
sugar was of no use. Last week Flavocincta appeared again
at sugar, but not in such large numbers.—George Brook ;
Fernbrook, Huddersfield, October 19, 1874.

Lycena Argiolus Ovipositing. —Farly last April I had the
pleasure of watching a female of Argiolus apparently deposit-
ing her eggs on the flower-buds of the holly, in a garden near

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 293

to Vauxhall Bridge: thus London is not quite bereft of but-
terflies.—T. P. Lucas.

Honey Bees.—On Sunday morning last, shortly before
ten o’clock, a swarm of bees issued from one of my hives.
After remaining in the air for a few minutes, making the
usual humming noise, they suddenly returned, clustering
round the entrance of the hive for a little time before re-
entering. The hive is not more than a third full of comb, and
the stock is very small, being a late and weak cast. Can you
assign any reason for this strange proceeding on the part of
the bees? For some time after their return the noise within
showed that they were still in a state of great excitement. I
turned up the hive within a few minutes after their re-entrance,
but could discover no cause for the unusual commotion.—
Joseph S. Baly; Warwick, October 13, 1874.

[Will some apiarian correspondent kindly reply.— Edward
Newman. |

Cynips lignicola, Hart.—Six species of Synergus are
known to inhabit the galls of this species, namely,—Mela-
nopus, Hayneanus, Pallidipennis, Apicalis, Pallicornis, and
Vulgaris: for a translation of Dr. Mayr’s interesting note on
its parasitism, see ‘ Entomologist, vil. 55. Ceroptres arator
has also been bred from the very small, stunted galls of
Cynips lignicola. All the above inquilines pass the winter in
the gall, emerging in the spring of the following year.—E. 4.
Fitch ; Downe Hall, Rayleigh, Essex.

[I regret that this and the following note were not in time
for insertion at p. 266.—Hdward Newman.]

Cynips conglomerata.—Synergus melanopus, S. apicalis,
S. pallicornis, and Ceroptres arator, are dependent on the
galls of Conglomerata. Neither this nor the above species
has been recorded as British.—E. A. Fitch.

An Epizoic Beetle-—Dr. Le Conte describes, in the
‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London,’ November
5th, 1872, a new family of Coleoptera, under the term
Platypsyllide, founded on Platypsylla Castoris, made known
by Ritsema, who discovered it on specimens of the
American beaver in the Zoological Gardens of Amsterdam.
A little later Prof. Westwood described it under the name
of Platypsyllus castorinus, a singular coincidence as regards
the scientific name. Ritsema regarded it as representing a

294 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

family of the Aphaniptera, equivalent in value to the Pulicida,
t.é., dipterous. Westwood thought it
to be a type of a new order of insects,
the Achreioptera. Dr. Le Conte,—and
we are fortunate in having in our
country one who easily leads the ranks
of Coleopterists,—after a hasty ex-
amination, regarded the insect as_
coleopterous, a conclusion confirmed
by further careful study, the results of
which are presented in the beautiful
paper before us. In this singular in-
sect the body is long-oval, flattened,
spiny on the exposed portions, re-
sembling at first sight a minute cock-
roach, and of the same colour. The
wing-covers are small, not longer than
the prothorax, and the head is nearly semicircular; the eyes
entirely wanting; the antenne nine-jointed, clavate; the
maxille large, with four-jointed palpi; the mentum large;
the ligula broad; and the labial palpi short and _three-
jointed; while the labrum is peculiar. After comparing this
beetle with those of other families, the author decides that
‘the affinities of this insect are very composite, but all in the
direction of the Adephagous and Clavicorn series, though
chiefly with the latter. The most convenient position of the
family will probably be between Hydrophilide and Leptinide
as the families are now arranged, though its tendency to
Trichopterygidz and Corylophide is equally strongly mani-
fested. It is, therefore, a very peculiar and extraordinary
synthetic type, which is almost equally in and out of place in
any linear arrangement of the series with which it is allied.’
As this parasite occurs on our native beaver we hope our
naturalists will be on the look-out for specimens, and care-
fully examine the fur of these animals for that purpose.—
‘American Naturalist’ for July, 1874.

Platypsylla Castoris.

Answers to Correspondents.

John T. D. Llewelyn.— Bluebottles on Leaves.—For the
last few days we have noticed the bluebottle-flies settle on
rose, cabbage, pear, and other leaves. The flies there die,

THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 295

and very shortly a fungus joins the body to the leaf. The
enclosed specimens have been dead two or three days. The
fungus apparently originates in the body of the fly. Would
you kindly give it your attention, and let me know your
opinion?

[I have nothing to add to the case so distinctly stated by
Mr. Llewelyn, except that the same phenomenon has frequently
been observed, and that no satisfactory explanation has been
given. When flies are thus fixed on the surface of glass,
there is an excellent opportunity for examining the fungus
with a lens.—Hdward Newman.}

Joseph Anderson, jun.—The insects are Pterochlorus
longipes of Passerini, and probably also the Lachnus
fasciatus of Burmeister. Kaltenbach found them feeding on
the trunks of Pinus Strobus, or Weymouth pine; and Zetter-
stedt found them also on the spruce. They have a remarkably
long rostrum, although perhaps not quite equal to that of
Lachnus Roboris, constituting the genus Stomaphis of
Walker. Mr. Buckton has examined the specimens, and
has most kindly supplied this information.— EZ. Newman.

Mrs. Rawlinson.—The moth is probably a small specimen
of the death’s-head hawk moth, Acherontia Atropos.—£.
Newman.

William Thomas.—I captured a specimen of a beetle on
August 31st, on some palings, near this place, which exactly
agrees with the plate given in the ‘Annual’ of Athous
difformis: it uttered a kind of hissing sound when moved.
It is the only example I have captured. The following is the
colouring :—wings, legs and antenne coppery brown, looking
quite transparent when exposed to the sun; the antenne
seem to be kept constantly quivering; the thorax with two
yellowish transverse bands above; it is woolly below, like
willow-down: there are no other markings about the body. I
think there can be no doubt as to the species.

[I must forbear to express an opinion. (2) The drawing
is a very good representation of the larva of the dagger-moth,
Acronycta Psi. (3) The beetle is Anchomenus prasinus, and
is very common.—Ldward Newman.]

James Hooper.—The creeping insects on the willow,
whether witfged or apterous, are a species of Aphis, or plant-
louse. The black spots are caused by the dropping of a
saccharine secretion from the Aphides: the bluebottles

296 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

congregate to feed on the sweets. All these nuisances will
have disappeared with the first frost. All attempted remedies
are inefficient. Hdward Newman.

Haggerston Entomological Society—The Seventh Annual
Exhibition was held at their rooms, 10, Brownlow Street,
Dalston, on the evenings of November 12th and 13th, and
was largely attended. Among the rarer species exhibited

were—O, Lunaris, by Mr. J. Moore; D. Albimacula, from

Folkestone, by Mr. Purday; L. Vitellina (taken at Glynde,
near Lewes, September 30th, 1874), Z. Conformis, and hybrids
between S. Ocellatus and 8. Populi, by Mr. E. G. Meek;
C. Fraxini, by Mr. Lepelley; L. Purpuraria, by Mr. Harper;
M. Salicalis, S. Emortualis, D. Literalis, and a fine collection
of knot-horns, by Mr. Machin; a new Coleophora (with
larva-case), D. Obfuscata and C. Munitata, by Mr. Eedle.
The following noteworthy varieties were shown :—V. Urtica,
by Messrs. Packman and Lepelley; A. Caja, by Messrs.
Eedle and Packman; a splendid banded specimen of
S. Certata, by Mr. Packman; C. Immanata, M. Schulziana,
M. Rubiginata, A. Cardamines (with the fore wings only, and
those of a peculiar shape), by Mr. Eedle; and last, but not
_ least in importance, a specimen taken by Mr. Macqueen at
light, in the New Forest, whose identity is doubtful, though
the preponderance of opinion seemed to be in favour of
M. Unangulata. The following species were also represented,
generally rather commonly :—S. Chrysidiformis, L. Albi-
-puncta, A. Cinerea, C. Gnaphalii, E. Venustula, C. Ab-
synthii, C. Glabraria, M. Alternata, H. Asellus, 8. Palealis,
Staintoniana and Irriguana, C. Cosmophorana, &c. Five
microscopes, which were placed in one of the rooms, were a
constant source of amusement and instruction to many of the
visitors. One of the objects, exhibited by Mr. Elisha,—a
bouquet of flowers, composed of the scales of butterflies,—
was much admired.— Henry Barilett ; Secretary.

West London Entomological Society.—The Second Annual
Exhibition of this Society will take place in the church-room,
adjoining St. Mark’s Institute, George Street, Oxford Street
(near Grosvenor Square), on December 3rd and 4th, 1874,
between 6 and 11 p.m. The company of entomologists is
solicited.—H. W. Timms; Secretary.

SUPPLEMENT,

An asterisk (*) prefixed to the spec

\RGYNNIS, Fad.

‘NIOBE.
Yiobe, Linn.

SREBIA, Bdv.

} PIPHRON.

apiphron, Knock. (1783).
Ocellis albo-punctatis).
Tar. Cassiope, Fab. (1793)-
Ocellis nigris coecis).
MEDEA.

Medea, W. V. (1776).
Blandina, Fab. (1795).

COENONYMPHA, H.-S.

CHORTOBIUS, Gi. -

DAVUS.

Davus, Fab.

Typhon, Haw.

Polydama, Havw., var.

Var. Rothliebi, Staud. Cat.
Davus, Haw.

(Ocellis pluribus, majoribus).

LYCANA, Bdv.

Bevica.

Beetica, Linn.

SESIA, Fab.
MuscFormis.
Musceformis, View. (1789).
Philanthiformis, Lasp.
PROCRIS, Fab.
INO, Leach.

GERYON.
Geryon, Hub.

ZYGANA, Fab.
EXXuULANS.

Exulans, Hoch.
Var. Vanadis, Dalm.

MELILOTI.

Meliloti, Esp.
SYNTOMIS, Jil.
*PHEGEA.

Phegea, Linn.
NACLIA, Bdv.
ANCILLA.

Ancilla, Linn.
NOLA, Leach.
ConFUSALIS.
Confusalis, H.-S.
Cristulalis, Dup., D.L. (non Hub.)
ALBULALIS.
Albulalis, Hub.

LITHOSIA, Fab.

| CANIOLA.
- Caniola, Hub.

|
.
.

MotyBpE0La.
Molybdeola, Gn.
Sericea, Greg.

requires to be confirmed.

LURIDEOLA.
Lurideola, Tr.
Complanula, Bdw., D. L.

DEPLANA.

& Deplana, Esp.

g Depressa, Esp.
Helvola, Hub.
Helveola, Och., D. L.

CALLIMORPHA, Lat.

HERA.
Hera, Linn.

BOMBYX, Linn.

QUERCUS.

Quercus, Linn.

Callune, Palmer, D. L.
Roporis.

Roboris, Schrank.
Guillemotii, Trimoulet.
Quercus, Hub. 270; aberr.
Quereus, D. L

ENNOMOS, 77.
AUTUMNARIA.

Autumnaria, Wernb.
Alniaria, W. V., D. L. (non Linn.)

ALNIARIA.

Alniaria, Linn., Don., Haw.
Canaria, Hub.

Tiliaria, Bork., D. L.
NYSSIA, Dup.

*T | APPONARIA.
Lapponaria, Bdv.
BOARMIA, Tr.

PERFUMARIA.
Perfumaria, Newm.
Rhomboidaria, var. ?
ACIDALIA, Tr.
PEROCHRARIA.
Perochraria, Fisch.
INTERJECTARIA.
Interjectaria, Bdv.

Dilutaria, Hub. ?
Osseata, Haw., Steph. (non W. V.)

STRIGARIA.
Strigaria, Hub.
APLASTA, Hub.
ONONARIA.
Ononaria, Fuess.
LYTHRIA, Hub.
PURPURARIA.
Purpuraria, Linn.
BUPITHECIA, Curt.
SUBFULVATA.
Subfulvata, Haw.

{ Oxydata, Tr., var.
Cognata, Steph.

TsOGRAMMATA.
Isogrammata, Tr.
Haworthiata, D. L.

1675.

ific name implies that the occurrence of such species in Britain

ARCEUTHATA.
Arceuthata, Frey.

VALERIANATA.
Valerianata, Hub.
Viminata, D. L.
TRISIGNARIA.
Trisignaria, H.-S.
CAMPANULATA.

Campanulata, H.-S.
Denotata, Hub. (teste Hein.)

LARICIATA.

Lariciata, Frey.
VIRGAUREATA.,
Virgaureata, Dbi.
Pimpinellata, Gn. (non Hub.)

ALBIPUNCTATA.
Albipunctata, Haw.
Tripunctaria, H.-S.

FRAXINATA.

Fraxinata, Crewe.
MELANIPPE, Dup.
SOcIATA.

Sociata, Bork. (teste Staud.)
Biriviata, D. L

Subtristata, Haw.
CIDARIA, Tr.
RETICULATA.
Reticulata, W. V.
EUBOLIA, Dup.
**\VfENIARIA.

Meniaria, Scop.
LITHOSTEGE, Hub.
GRISEATA.

Griseata, W. V., var. A., Gn.
Nivearia, D. L. (non W. V.)
CLOSTERA, Steph.
ANACHORETA.
Anachoreta, W. V.
BRYOPHILA, Tr.
ALG.

Alge, Fab.
LEUCANIA, Och.
LonreYI.

Loreyi, Dup.

EXTRANEA.

Extranea, Gn.

PUTRESCENS.

Putrescens, Hub.
*T,-ALBUM.

L-album, Linn.
ALBIPUNCTA.

Albipuncta, W. V.
TAPINOSTOLA, Led.

Bonpvil.
Bondii, Knaggs.
? Extrema, Hub.

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E1ymni.
Elymi, Tr.

NONAGRIA, Tr.

BREVILINEA.
Brevilinea, Knaggs.

LUPERINA, Badv.
GUENEEI.
Guenéei, Dbl.

PHOTEDES, Led.

CAPTIUNCULA.
Captiuncula, 77.
Expolita, Stain.

HYDRILLA, Bdw.

PALUSTRIS.
Palustris, Hub. ?

AGROTIS, Och.

HELVETINA.
Helvyetina, Bdv. ?

NOCTUA, Gn.

FLAMMATRA.
Flammatra, W. V.

TANIOCAMPA, Gn.
GOTHICA.

Gothica, Linn.

Var. Gothicina, H.-S.
DIANTH(CCIA, Bdv.
CAPSOPHILA.

Capsophila, Bdv.

IRREGULARIS.
Drregularis, Hujin.
Echii, Bork.

CASIA.

Cesia, W. V.
BaARReEttril.
Barrettii, Dbl.
POLIA, Och.
XANTHOMISTA.
Xanthomista, Hub. 4
Var. Nigrocincta, Tr.
XYLINA, Och.
FURCIFERA.
Fureifera, Hujn. (1787).
Conformis, W. V. (1776).

LAMBDA.

Lambda, Fab. (1787) (non Haw.)
Tar. Zinckenii, Tr. (1826).

ACONTIA, Tv.
SOLARIS.

Solaris, W. V.

Var.? Albicollis, Fab.
MICRA, Ga.

*PAULA.

Paula, Hub.

PLUSIA, Och.

NI.

Ni, Hub.

*“VERTICILLATA,
Verticillata, Gn.
TOXOCAMPA, Gn.

CRACCH.
Cracer, W. V.

ACENTROPUS, Curt.
NIVEUS.

Niveus, Olivier ?

Latipennis, Mdésch., yar.
EBULEA, Gn.

CATALAUNALIS.
Catalaunalis, Dup.

MARGARODES, Gn.

UNIONALIS.
Unionalis, Hub.

LEMIODES, Gn.

PULVERALIS.
Pulveralis, Hub,

SCOPARTA, Haw.
BASISTRIGALIS.
Basistrigalis, Knaggs.
SCOTICA.

Scotica, White.
Cembralis, var. ?
INGRATELLA.
Ingratella, Zell.
ZELLERI.

Zelleri, Wocke.
ULMELLA.
Ulmella, Dale.

CRAMBUS, Fab.
ALPINELLUS.
Alpinellus, Hub.

VERELLUS.
Verellus, Zinck.
MYELLUS.
Myellus, Hub,
FASCELINELLUS.

Fascelinellus, Hub.
Pedriolellus, D. L. (non Dup.)

EROMENE, Dup.
OCELLEA.

Ocellea, Haw.

Cyrilli, Costa. .

Funicuilellus, Fr.
MELISSOBLAPTES, Zell.
CEPHALONICA.

Cephalonica, Sta.
TRACHONITIS? Zeil.
PRYERELLA.

Pryerella, Vaughan.
HOMAOSOMA, Curt.
BINEVELLA.

Binevella, Hub.

Eluyiella, Gn. MSS., D. L.
SENECIONIS.

Senecionis, Vaughan (pre. var. ?)
SAXICOLA.

Saxicola, Vaughan.
Nimbella, var. ?

PHYCIS, Fab.

OBDUCTELLA.
Obductella, Fisch. v. R.

DAVISELLA.
Davisella, Newman.
Albariella, Knaggs (non Zell.)

SUBORNATELLA.
Subornatella, Zell.
Serpylletorum, Zell.

ADORNATELLA.
Adornatella, Dup., Zell.
Dilutella, Hub. ? Gn. Cat.

EPHESTIA, Gn.

CINEROSELLA.
Cinerosella, Zell. (teste Led.)
Artemisiella, Steph.

TORTRIX, Gn.

PopDANA.

Podana, Scop.

& Pyrastrana, Hub., D. L.
Ameriana, 7'r,
Rosana, Steph.
Gerningiana, Haw.

¢ Congenerana, Hub.
Oporana, Haw.
Fuscana, Steph., var.
DIVERSANA.
Diversana, Hub. -
Acerana, Haw.
Transitana, Gn., D. L.

**GNOMANA.
Gnomana, Linn,

FORSTERANA.
Forsterana, Fab.
Adjunctana, T7., D. L.

AMPHYSA, Curt.
PRODROMANA.

Prodromana, Hub.

Walkeri, Curtis, D. L.
LEPTOGRAMMA, Curt.

NIVEANA.

Niveana, Fab.
Trevyeriana, Hub.
Scotana, Gn. MSS., var.

PERONEA, Curt.

SPONSANA.
Sponsana, Fab.
Favillaceana, D. L.
Reticulana, Haw., var.
Tristana, Haw., var.
LIPsIANa.
Lipsiana, W. V.

AUTUMNANA.
Autumnana, Hub.
Rufana, W.V. (non Scop.)

CoMPARANA.
Comparana, Hub.
Schalleriana, var. ?
Costimaculana, Steph., var.
COMARIANA.
Comariana, Zell.
Proteana, H.-S,
Potentillana, Cooke.
DICTYOPTERYX, Stph.
LorqQuiniana.
Lorquiniana, Dup.
Uliginosana, Bent., D. L.
Atrosignana, H.-S.
PENTHINA, Tr.
SORORCULANA.
Sororculana, Zett.

Prelongana, Gn.
Betuletana, H.-S., 251.

Diipiana.
Dimidiana, Sodoff.
Ochromelana, Gn., D. L.
Atropunctana, Zett.
Weaverana, Daie, MSS.
STAINTONIANA.
Staintoniana, Barrett.

FULIGANA.

Fuligana, Hub.

Ustulana, Haw. (non Hub.)
Carbonana, D. L.

SPILONOTA, Curt.

LaRICIANA.
Lariciana, Zell.

INCARNATANA.

Incarnatana, Hub.
Ameenana, Hub., D. L.

SERICORIS, Tr.

DoUBLEDAYANA.
Doubledayana, Barrett.

IRRIGUANA.
Trriguana, Hub.
Metallicana, var. ?

MIXODIA, Gn.

RUBIGINOSANA.
Rubiginosana, H.-S.
Bouchardana, D. L.
CONSEQUANA.
Consequana, H.-S.
Hawkerana, Stainton.

EUCHROMIA, Steph.

MyYGINDANA.
Mygindana, W. V.
Flammeana, Fvil.

RUFANA.

Rufana, Scop.
CNEPHASIA, Curt.
POLITANA.

Politana, Haw. ,
Lepidana, Curt., D. L.
Sylvana, Tr.

Pulchellana, Haw., var.

SCIAPHILA, Tr.

CHRYSANTHEANA.
Chrysantheana, Dup.
Asinana, Haw. (non Hub.)
Alternana, @n.

Alternella, W. V. ?
WAHLBOMIANA.
Wahlbomiana, Linn.

PASIVANA.
Pasivana, Hub.
Sinuana, Steph.
ABRASANA.
Abrasana, Dup.
CAPUA, Steph.
FAVILLACEANA.
Favillaceana, Hub.
Ochraceana, Steph., D. L.
Vulgana, Froel.
Terreana, Dup.

PHOXOPTERYX, Gn.
TNORNATANA.

Inornatana, H.-S.

Subareuana, Wilk.
PALUDANA.

Paludana, Barrett.

L2TANA.

Letana, Fab.

Harpana, Hub.

Ramana, D. L. (non Linn.)

GRAPHOLITA, Tr.

RaMANA.

Ramella, Linn.
Paykulliana, Fab., D. L.
Sesquilunana, Haw.
Triquetrana, Hub., var.
Costana, Dup., var.

HYPERMECIA, Gn.

CRUCIANA.

Cruciana, Linn.

Excecana, H.-S.

Viminana, Gn.

Augustana, D. L. (non Hub.)

AUGUSTANA.
Angustana, Hub.

EPHIPPIPHORA, Gn.
PFLUGIANA. ‘

o Pflugiana, Fab.? Haw.
Novana, Gn., var. ?

@ Sticticana, Haw., var. a.
Scutulana, D. L. (non W. V.)

GRAND/EVANA.
Grandevana, Zell, ?

POPULANA.
Populana, Fab.
Ephippana, Hub.
GALLICOLANA.
Gallicolana, Zell.

COCCYX, Tr.
RAvVULANA.
Ravulana, H.-S.

ARGYRANA.
Argyrana, Hub.
Atromargana, Haw.

@ Strobilella, Steph.
Vernana, Knaggs, var. ?
NEMORIVAGANA.
Nemorivaga, T'engs.
Finitimana, Gn. MSS.
Tedana, Linn. ? D. L.
PAMPLUSIA, Gn.
MERCURIANA.
Mercuriana, Hub.
Monticolana, Mann.

Alticolana, Steph.

Subsequana, Steph. (non Haw.)
ENDOPISA, Gn.
NIGRICANA.

Nigricana, Fab.

Tenebrosana, Dup. ?
Nebritana, D. D. (non Tr.)

{ Proximana, Haw., var. ?

( Pisana, Gn.

STIGMONOTA, Gn.

Dorsana.
Dorsana, Fab.
Lunulana, W. V.

OROBANA.
Orobana, Tr.

LEGUMINANA.

Leguminana, Zell.

Defiexana, H.-S.

@ Interruptana, D.L. (non H.-S.)

CoROLLANA.
Corollana, Hub.
Heegerana, D. L. (non Hub.)

GERMARANA.

Germarana, Hub.

Puncticostana, Steph., D. L.
Immaculana, Gn.
RosETICOLANA.

Roseticolana, Zell.

Germarana, Gn., D. L. (non Hub.)

DICRORAMPHA, Gn.

PETIVERANA.
Petiverella, Linn.
Stelliferana, Curt., var.
Flayidorsana, Knaggs, var, ?

PLUMBANA.
Plumbana, Scop.
Ulicana, Gn.
HERBOSANA.
Herbosana, Barrett.

CATOPTRIA, Gn.

JULIANA.
Juliana, Curt.

NIMBANA.
Nimbana, Fisch.

ASPIDISCANA.
Aspidiscana, Hub.

MARITIMANA.

Maritimana, Dale, MSS.

Wimmerana, 77.? D.L.

ANMULANA.

#Emulana, Schig.

Latiorana, H.-S.

Modestana, Steph., D. L. (non
H.-S.)

CONTERMINANA.

Conterminana, H.-S.

HoOHENWARTHIANA.
Hohenwarthiana, W. V., H.-S., Gn.
Scopoliana, Haw.

FULVANA.
Fulvana, Steph., Wilk.
Jaceana, H.-S.

CANA.

Cana, Haw.

Carduana, Gn,
Scopoliana, Wilk., D. DL.
Hohenwarthiana, Tr. ?

EUPGECILIA, Steph.

PALLIDANA.
Pallidana, Zell.
Albicapitana, Cooke, D. L.
SODALIANA.

Sodaliana, Haw. ?
Amandana, H.-S.

VECTISANA.
Vectisana, Westw.

GEYERIANA.
Geyeriana, H.-S., prec. var. 2

MANNIANA.
Manniana, F. v. R.
Luridana, Gregson.
CILIANA.
Ciliella, Hub.
Ruficiliana, Haw.
Rubeliana, Zell.

DEGREYANA.
Degreyana, McLach.

IMPLICITANA.
Implicitana, H.-S.
Heydeniana, H.-S., partim.

CHROSIS, Gn.

BIFASCIANA.
Bifasciana, Hub.
Audouinana, Dup., D. L.
Apicalis, Westw.

ARGYROLEPIA, Steph.

SUBBAUMANNIANA.
Subbaumanniana, Wilk.
Baumanniana, var. 2

ZEPHYRANA.

Zephyrana, Tr.

Dubrisana, Curt.) gen. 1, teste
Virginana, Gn. )} Lederer.
Maritimana, Gn., gen.2, teste Led.

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ALTERNANA.
Alternana, Steph.
Gigantana, Gn., D. L.

APHELIA, Curt.

OSSEANA.

Osseana, Scop.
Pratana, Hub., D. L.
Quadripunctana, Haw.
Cantiana, Curt., var.

PSYCHE, Bruand.
CRASSIORELLA.
Crassiorella, Bruand.

BETULINA.
Betulina, Zell.
Anicanella, Bruand.

SOLENOBIA, Zell.
CONSPURCATELLA.
Conspureatella, Zell.
Dovueuasit.

Douglasii, Stn.

TINEA, Zell.
RURICOLELLA.
Ruricolella, Stn.
DuBIELLA.

Dubiella, Gregs.

CONFUSELLA.
Confusella, H.-S.

INCURVARIA, Haw.
CANARIELLA.

Canariella, Sti.
MiICROPTERYX, Zell.

FASTUOSELLA.
Fastuosella, Zell.

SWAMMERDAMIA, Sz.
NANIVORA.

Nanivora, Stn.
DEPRESSARIA, Haw.
CNICELLA.

Cnicella, Tr.

OLERELLA.

Olerella, Zell.

DISCIPUNCTELLA.
Discipunctella, H.-S.
Pastinacella, Stn., D. L.

GELECHIA,. Zell.
MuscosELLA.
Muscosella, Zell.

INTAMINATELLA.
Intaminatella, Stn.

UMBROSELLA.
Umbrosella, Zell.

KNAGGSIELLA.
Knaggsiella, Stn.
MARMOREA.

- Marmorea, Haw.

LAtTHYRI.

Lathyri. Stn.
Nigricostella, Stn., D. L.
OSSEELLA.

Osseella, Stn.

TARQUINIELLA.
Tarquiniella, Stn.

SANGIELLA.
Sangiella, Stn.
PINGUINELLA.
Pinguinella, Tr.

GRACILELLA.
Gracilella, Stn.

~ ConFINIS.

Confinis, Stn.
STRELITZIELLA.
Strelitziella, H.-S. ]
MACROCHILA, Steph.
USsTULELLA.

Ustulella, Fab.
PANCALIA, Stn.
LATREILLELLA.
Latreillella, Curt.
ACROLEPIA, Curt.
MARCIDELLA.

Mavrcidella, Curt.
ARGYRESTHIA, Stn.
ANRARIELLA.

Erariella, Stn.
ZELLERIA, Stn.
SAXIFRAGA,

Saxifrage, Gn.
GRACILARIA, Zell.
KOLLARIELLA.

Kollariella, Zell.
ALCHIMIELLA.
Alchimiella, Scop.

Swederella, Thun., D. L.
COLEOPHORA, Zell.
WILKINSONI.

Wilkinsoni, Scott.
FUSCOCUPRELLA.

Fuscocuprella, Zell.
Fuscociliella, Sin. .

ARTEMISICOLELLA.
Artemisicolella, Bruand.
Albicans, Stn., D. L.

MELILOTELLA.
Melilotella, Scott.
ARDEHPENNELLA.
Ardexpennella, Scott.
ARTEMISIELLA.
Artemisiella, Scott.
BIcOLORELLA.
Bicolorella, Scott.
GRAMINICOLELLA.
Graminicolella, Stn.
COSMOPTERYX, Stn.
ORICHALCELLA.
Orichalcella, Stn.
LAVERNA, Sin.
VINOLENTELLA.
Vinolentella, H.-S,
ELACHISTA, Stn.
PaLupuM.

Paludum, Frey.

DiIsPUNCTELDA.
Dispunctella, Dup.
Triseriatella, Stn., D. Lz

TISCHERIA, Zeil.
Dopon@a.
Dodonea, Stn.

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y

LITHOCOLLETIS, Zell.

INSIGNITELLA.
Insignitella, Zell.

OPOSTEGA, Zell.
SPATUTELLA.
Spatutella, Gn.

RELIQUELLA.
Reliquella, Zell.

BUCCULATRIX, Zell.
ARTEMISIELLA.
Artemisiella, Wocke.
CEMIOSTOMA, Zell.
OROBI.

Orobi, Stn.

LATHYRIFOLIELLA.
Lathyrifoliella, Stn.

NEPTICULA, Zell.
SoRBI.

Sorbi, Stn.
ULMIVORA.
Ulnivora, Frey.
TILLA.

Tilie, Frey.
CENTIFOLIELLA.
Centifcliella, Zell.
APICELLA.
Apicella, Sin.
RUFICAPITELLA.
Ruficapitella, Haw.
MINUSCULELLA.
Minusculella, H.-S.

CASTANELLA.
Castanella, Hdleston.

SPLENDIDISSIMELLA.
Splendidissimella, H.-S.

BOHEMANNIA, Sin.

QUADRIMACULELLA.
Quadrimacvlella, H.-S.

PTEROPHORUS, Lat.
BERTRAMI.

Bertrami, Roessl.

TEUCRIL.

Teucrii, Greening.

L#TUS.

Letus, Zell.

SEROTINUS.

Serotinus, Zell.
Bipunctidactylus, Haw., D. L.
ZOPHODACTYLUS.
Zophodactylus, Dup.
Loweii, Zell.
HopGKINSONI.
Hodgkinsoni, Gregs.
Zophodactylus, var. ?
ARIDUS.

Aridus, Zell. ?
PTERODACTYLUS.
Pterodactylus, Linn.
Fuscus, Retz.
Fuscodactylus, D. L.
MonopactyLus.

Monodactylus, Linn.
Pterodactylus, Haw.yD.L.

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