rich deep brown colour, which, while at rest, only remained as eye-like spots all over the body. Sepia was expelled from an interior tube protruded between the mantle and the base of the swimming-tube. The shell, containing ova, appeared of the same specific gravity as water, for it rested wherever it was placed. The Zoe' I presume is the male organ; it moved about with a writhing motion, the lower disk being apparently surrounded by suckers; both it and the eggs possessed the eye-like spots and the power of changing them." My friend forwarded me the specimens in a bottle of alcohol, but unfortunately they never reached me. We were very far apart, and the "Ocean Parcels Delivery Company " I believe is not yet in existence. The account, however, confirms some observations I made during a former voyage concerning the facility with which the argonaut quits her shell, and the presence of the parasitic male is highly important as proving the sex of the shell-constructing individuals. My friend, Mr. Kerr, was, I believe, unacquainted with my observations.—Arthur Adams ; Olga Bay, Manchuria, August 3, 1859.

On the Capture of Telmessus serratus in Manchuria.—I land as usual with the "seining party," for, besides the exciting pleasure of catching good fish, there is a chance of securing something interesting to the naturalist, but not fit for the "pot." We choose a shallow sandy bay full of "tangle,” and where a little rivulet ruus into the sea, for in such localities do the salmon love to congregate. It is evening, and the poor Chinese fishermen have hauled their canoes high up upon the beach. They have lighted their wood fires, and are peacefully employed, some smoking, and others preparing the supper of fish. Huge rocks crowned with trees, dark and solemn in the twilight, form the back ground, and already the fireflies have commenced their intermittent illumination. The seine is taken out in the "jolly boat," and forms a vast semicircle in the water, and the sailors are scattered through the bush cutting down trees and making huge fires to attract the fish. Soon parties in long boots and in bare legs assemble at either end of the seine, and singing songs, if not select, yet cheery, commence hauling in the net. Glittering scales and silvery bellies soon show themselves above the water, and as the seine is landed, amid great excitement, a tumbling, leaping mass of fish is thrown upon the sand. "Here's a kinger" cry the sailors as they "fist" a noble salmon. Only a toader" cries another, casting high up among the bushes an ugly brown Tetraodon. "Here's an adjective big turbot" says a short man with a rubicund proboscis; and "Here's shrimp sauce for the turbot" says a long pale boy, with a squint in his eye, picking up prawns three inches long; and "Here," sings out another of the jovial crew, “ is a curio for the Doctor." With that a hairy man of the sea brings me a large yellow somewhat apathetic crab with "Please, sir, is this any good; I never seen another like 'im," and I thank him courteously, and take possession of a splendid, perfect, living specimen of my friend Adam White's Telmessus serratus.—Arthur Adams; Olga Bay, Munchuria, August 3, 1859.

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Capture of Gonepteryx Rhamni, var. Cleopatra.—I have to announce the capture of that remarkable variety of Gonepteryx Rhamni called Cleopatra: it was taken by my uncle, Mr. John Fullerton, in his grounds at Thrybergh Park, near Rotherham,

on the 27th of June, in this year. The fore wings are much more suffused with orange than those of the specimen which Mr. Curtis figured, and the specimen resembles exactly the Italian specimen of Cleopatra in Mr. Hope's collection.H. Adair Pickard; Christ Church, Oxford, August 27, 1860.- From the Intelligencer?

Description of the Larva of Acidalia inornata.—Full-fed larva rigid, rugose; body rich dark chocolate-brown, intersectional bands grayish, with a light spot in the centre; head slightly bifid, with two raised white spots at the back; dorsal and subdorsal lines light and distinct on the first four segments, interrupted to the ninth; dorsal lozenges on the middle segments indicated by a dark outline, half of the last lozenge and hinder segments light brown, with a broad dark line running down the centre; belly gray. This larva hybernates, and will feed on Polygonum aviculare, P. Hydropiper, a species of Galium, Cerastium arvense, &c.—James Batty; 133, South Street, Park, Sheffield, August 20, 1860.—Id.

Description of the Larva of Eupithecia satyrata.—

Var. 1. Ground-colour pale yellowish green, segmental divisions yellow. Central dorsal line dusky green. Down the centre of the back a series of Y-shaped dusky green blotches, edged with purplish brown, and becoming confluent or merged in the central line on the anterior and posterior segments. Subdorsal lines very slender and indistinct, dusky green. Spiracular line yellow. Between the subdorsal and spiraBack studded with very

cular lines a row of small slanting purplish blotches.

minute yellowish tubercles.

Var. 2. Back greenish white. Central dorsal line pinkish or rose-colour. Subdorsal lines ditto. Down the centre of the back a series of large rose-coloured and rusty red goblet-shaped blotches, becoming faint or merged in the central line on the anterior and posterior segments. Spiracular line waved, rose-colour. Subdorsal and spiracular lines connected by a number of slanting rose-coloured streaks. Belly pale sea-green or greenish white, with a central white line. Back studded with numerous small white tubercles.

Var. 3. Whole of the back suffused with rose-colour. Subdorsal lines yellowish. Dorsal blotches edged with yellow. Spiracular line interrupted with yellow patches. Belly greenish white. Ventral segmental divisions white.

This larva tapers considerably towards the head; it is very local, but occurs in some plenty in some parts of Buckinghamshire, where, however, it is confined to the open spaces between and near the beech woods. It feeds upon the petals of almost

any flower which happens to grow in the locality, e. g., Centaurea nigra, Knautia arvensis, Gentiana Amarella and G. campestris, Apargia hispida, Origanum vulgare, Prunella vulgaris, Galium Mollugo, &c., preferring the two first-named. It is fullfed in September. The pupa, which is enclosed in an earthen cocoon, has the thorax and wing-cases golden yellow suffused with red. Abdominal divisions and tip red. The perfect insect appears in June.-H. Harpur Crewe; Drayton-Beauchamp, September 22, 1860.

Description of the Larva of Eupithecia helveticata. — Short and stumpy, the same thickness from tip to tail. Back and belly bright green. Central dorsal line dark green. Subdorsal lines pale yellow. Spiracular line yellow, waved. Anal tip of cenHead slightly bifid, dusky, curved inwards. Central venSpaces between the subdorsal and spiracular lines darker green Feeds on the common juniper (Juniperus communis). Full

tral dorsal line purplish.

tral line pale yellow. than back and belly.

fed throughout September. Resembles in many respects the larva of E. sobrinata. For the larvæ from which the foregoing description is taken I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Andrew Wilson, of Edinburgh. The pupa, which is enclosed in an earthen cocoon, has the thorax and abdomen bright green, the latter sometimes yellowish. Wing-cases much darker, very transpareut. Central dorsal line dark green. Abdominal divisions and frequently the border of wing-cases reddish. Tip of abdomen blood-red. Under side of ditto yellowish.-Id.

Description of the Larva of Eupithecia subumbrata.

Var. 1. Very long and slender, tapering very much towards the head. Groundcolour dull yellowish green. Central dorsal line broad, dark green, narrower at the segmental divisions. Subdorsal lines dusky, very narrow and indistinct. Dorsal segmental divisions orange. Ventral ditto yellow. Spiracular line dusky green. On each side of the head and anal segment a yellowish line.

Var. 2. Ground-colour dirty greenish brown. Central dorsal line dusky olive. Subdorsal lines ditto, narrow. Posterior segments reddish. In other respects re

sembles var. 1.

This singular long thin larva I have been in the habit of taking at intervals for some years past in Buckinghamshire. It feeds upon the same plants and in the same localities as Eupithecia satyrata, preferring perhaps Apargia hispida and Crepis -taraxifolia. It is full-fed at the end of August and throughout September. The pupa, enclosed in an earthen cocoon, has the thorax and wing-cases dark green. Abdomen ochreous, tip dusky red. The perfect insect appears in June.-Id.

Reappearance of Leucania putrescens at Torquay.-Last night I was fortunate enough to take a fine specimen of this insect, about a quarter of a mile from the place where I took them before. It is more than a month later than I took the species last year, in consequence, I suppose, of the bad weather. I found it on the flowers of Teucrium Scorodonia, which plant is very attractive to moths in general.-R. M. Stewart; 3, Park Place, Torquay, Devon, August 28, 1860. Since my last communication I have taken two more specimens of L. putrescens; they are both apparently fresh from the pupa.-R. M. Stewart; September 3, 1860.—From the ‘ Intelligencer.'

Discovery of the Food-plant of Nemotois scabiosellus.-The larva of Nemotois scabiosellus is found; we have bred it from the egg; its food-plant is Scabiosa arvensis. We repeated an attempt which we made three years ago, and which then failed; we collected the specimens we found in copulâ and some scabious heads, on some of which both males and females were sitting. We observed the females, both out of doors and in our breeding-cage, at work laying their eggs. The flowers and seeds are the first abodes of the larvæ; the eggs are laid in the fructification of the scabious flowers, each enclosed in a seed-capsule. When the interior of the seedhas been eaten out by the larva it immediately uses the husk as a case, baving gnawed a hole at the lower truncate end of the husk; at this age the larva seems to attack other seeds, boring into them and eating out the contents. Two of the larger larvæ have already made their large cases out of pieces of dried leaves, but how this process was performed has not yet been sufficiently observed. Probably the more advanced larvæ feed on the leaves of the scabious and other low plants. Some were observed in the act of gnawing a dry leaf of the upright fly-honeysuckle (Lonicera Xylosteum). -The credit of these observations, and of the successful treatment of the insects, is due to my son Dr. Ottmar Hofmann.-Communicated by Herr Hofmann, of Ratisbon, to Mr. Stainton, and inserted in the Intelligencer' of September 8, 1860,

Capture of Hallomenus fuscus near Lee.-Accident the other evening led my friend Douglas to lay his finger on an example of Hallomenus fuscus, and for a few more nights (wet or dry) we visited the locality, on the outlook for more. Fortune did not condescend to reward me until two nights ago, when spying one sitting in a new place I examined it thoroughly, shouted for Douglas to come, and I think we took about one hundred between us, and nearly as many last night.-John Scott; 13, Torrington Villas, Lee, S.E., August 31, 1860.— From the Intelligencer.'

Capture of Mycetophagus multipunctatus near Lee.-Whilst in search of a little Ceutorhynchus the other evening I happened to lay hold of a boletus containing a number of Mycetophagus multipunctatus, as well as a lot of the larvæ,-active little fellows who, every one, chose a different path across the paper on which the boletus was laid during examination, so that their capture again was rendered somewhat difficult.-Id.

Habits of Bledius tricornis.-The oozes here now, after the tide has gone down, and particularly if it should be a warm day (a thing which, I am sorry to say, is of rare occurrence this season), are literally swarming with Coleopterous insects, among which the showy Bledius tricornis is the most abundant: one can easily see where there is a colony of this insect, as each of them throw up little mounds of wet sand about half an inch high, before the mouths of their burrows; directly the sun appears they come out in thousands, and run from burrow to burrow. They look very conspicuous, owing to the bright colour of their elytra: as soon as the sun becomes obscured or the ground disturbed they run off as fast as they can to their habitations; on the re-appearance of the sun they emerge very slowly and cautiously, and if frightened then, or, when but a short distance from their burrows, they invariably run backwards into them. Some of them are brown, with pale straw-coloured elytra; these are, in all probability, individuals just arrived at maturity. If I had felt inclined to I am quite certain I might have filled several bottles with them. How they contrive to live I cannot imagine, as they must, during the high tides we have had for the last few days, have been covered with the tide for at least six hours each day; they appear, however, to thrive rather than otherwise, as directly the tide goes out they may be seen busily engaged reconstructing their burrows, which they do with marvellous rapidity and neatness. They first of all make, with their anterior legs and mandibles, a small hole sufficiently deep to contain their abdomen; after that is accomplished they work backwards in some extraordinary manner, shovelling out the wet sand with their posterior legs to the mouth of the hole; this they continue to do till they get down to a considerable distance: the sand which they throw up forms a barrier in front of their burrows, and is, I suspect, a short time prior to the rise of the tide, made use of to cover their holes, and so prevent the water from reaching them; this, however, I have never yet seen them do, so I cannot write positively. The insect which ranks next in abundance is Bembidium laterale, which, when the sun shines, runs in thousands over all parts of the sands far below high-water mark. Under seaweed B. pallidipenne hides, but is far from common; also in the same locality Aleochara obscnrella, Phytosus nigriventris and Cercyon litorale; the latter insect has some remarkable varieties.-Gervase F. Mathew; Raleigh House, near Barnstaple, September 20, 1860.

On the Musical Powers of the British Species of the Genus Acalles.—In the July number of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History' appeared a most delightful paper" On Certain Musical Curculionidæ," by T. V. Wollaston, Esq. The musical insect XVIII. 3 I

there treated upon is a Teneriffe species of Acalles, and most accomplished artistes they appear to be. We are informed that "it was a constant source of amusement to make these creatures stridulate, or sing' as it was usually called, which they would invariably do for almost any length of time when alarmed." The " song" is produced, it appears, by "a minute and rapid vibration of the apical segment of the abdomen," the friction of which against the inner surface of the elytra is the means whereby the little curculionidous musician produces its melodies. Mr. Wollaston conjectures whether all the Acalles have this remarkable power, but, he adds, as far as regards the species found in the Atlantic Islands, he has little hesitation in believing that they have. On reading this very amusing and instructive paper I felt a strong desire to ascertain, if possible, whether our British species possessed any amount of musical talent, not that I for a moment expected them to bear a comparison with foreign professors, for I believe we must be content at once to yield the palm of musical proficiency to the foreign artiste; still I am so easily charmed with the simple melodies of my native land that I determined, if possible, to ascertain what degree of musical ability our own minute Acalles could lay claim to. During a few week's residence at Deal I had the good fortune to capture considerable numbers of two species of Acalles, A. Roboris and A. misellus. In the first instance I tried the powers of single specimens by placing them in pill-boxes, which I shook to alarm the insects, and then applied them to my ear, for some time without success; at length I distinctly heard the notes of A. Roboris, they were "soft, gentle and low," in fact, simple melodies. I next placed a dozen in a single box, which I shook and applied to my ear, when I was delighted by a complete curculionidous chorus, the effect I must confess being somewhat monotonous, in consequence of the performers all playing in the same key. The fact was however established of A. Roboris being musical, and certainly a much more accomplished musician than A. misellus, which requires much coaxing and pressing in order to obtain the slightest proof of its capabilities. On closely observing the Acalles when turned on their backs and teased into harmony I could, with the aid of a good pocket lens, distinctly observe the rapid vibrations of the apical segment of the abdomen. Mr. Wollaston refers to other Coleoptera, which possess in a greater or less degree the power of stridulation, particularizing some species of Longicorns. Of the British species of that family the Aromia moschata is certainly no despicable performer, but as far as my experience enables me to judge I consider the Cychrus rostratus to be the most accomplished English musician, although the various species of the genus Necrophorus must be allowed to be highly accomplished performers. I have not had an opportunity of testing the musical capabilities of the third British Acalles, the A. ptinoides.-Frederick Smith, British Museum.

Capture of Tropideres sepicola-I have great pleasure in recording the capture of another specimen of this rare Curculio, by stripping off the bark of a semi-decayed oak in Buddon Wood; this being the third British specimen discovered.-F. Plant ; Leicester, September 10, 1860.

Capture of Trichodes hispidus in Leicestershire. -Late in July last, accompanied by Mr. F. Plant, of Leicester, I visited Buddon Wood, near Quorndon, Leicestershire, in search of Coleoptera, and on removing some semi-decayed bark from a young oak tree observed specimens of Trichodes hispidus underneath. We each succeeded in capturing several. We again visited the spot a month later, and then captured more specimens under similar circumstances on the same tree, and also underneath the decaying bark of several others near.-John S. Harris; Burton-on-Trent, September 11, 1860.