As

Reported Occurrence of Lycana Acis in Epping Forest.-I am happy to inform you that I captured a specimen of Lycana Acis last Friday, August 31, in Epping Forest. Although slightly damaged it is in other respects a very fair specimen. Mr. Newman, in his excellent "Butterfly Number of Young England," says the species is not now obtained, this, announcement may be interesting to some of my young friends.-W. Banks; 5, George's Terrace, Copenhagen Street, Islington, September 3, 1860. Young England.'

[Will Mr. Banks oblige me by bringing the specimen to this office to have this interesting statement verified?-Edward Newman.]

Pupa of Sphinx Convolvuli.—A considerable number of the pupa of Sphinx Convolvuli have again been dug up in the potato fields in the South of England; and I am indebted to Mr. Bond for a very fine specimen for the cabinet of the Entomological Club. Entomologists finding these pupæ in potato fields are earnestly requested to observe whether the Convolvulus arvensis or any other plant is growing among the potatoes.-Edward Newman.

Capture of Charocampa Celerio at Darlington.-I have a fine specimen of this insect, which was taken here on Sunday last, off a window-ledge, by a friend of mine, and was given to me.-W. Beadnell; Northgate, Darlington.- Intelligencer.'

Capture of Charocampa Celerio at Matlock.-A fine specimen of this insect was taken at Matlock, on the 20th ult., by a gentleman, at whose house I saw it last week. It was fluttering in the long grass and herbage beneath a clump of fir trees, about six o'clock in the evening, having evidently just emerged from the pupa state. My friend put his hat over it, but having no net or box at hand he was obliged to grasp it rather roughly with his fingers, nip it beneath the wings, and pin it with a lady's common shawl-pin.-F. Tearle; Grammar School, Kettering, October 5, 1860. Id.

J

Capture of Charocampa Celerio at Nottingham.-On Saturday evening last a party of workmen brought a large moth to the Museum of the Natural History Society for identification. Their capture was eagerly compared with the occupants of the case, and, to the evident delight of its owners, found to tally exactly with Chorocampa Celerio, with the exception that it had "no horns." It had been taken in a factory in the town, into which, from the partiality of its species for light, it had no doubt been attracted by the glare of what the Lancashire operatives term "the manufacturer's sun," too close contact with which had probably deprived it of its antennæ. – September 24, 1860.—Id.

Capture of Charocampa Celerio at Wakefield.-At the meeting of our Naturalists' Society on Thursday last, a splendid living specimen of Chorocampa Celerio, as if just emerged from the pupa, was exhibited by Mr. Talbot. It was in excellent condition, and did not appear to have made use of its wings.-H. S. Roxby; Wakefield, October 1, 1860.-Id.

Capture of Sphinx Celerio at Beccles.-I saw a beautiful specimen of Sphinx Celerio in the shop of Mr. Steel, chemist, of Beccles: it entered the shop, attracted by the light, and settled on a door.-W. Winter; Aldeby, October 15, 1860.-Id.

Occurrence of Sesia Spheeiformis in Sussex. A friend of mine having taken an extremely fine female of Sesia Spheciformis in Sussex, was kind enough to conduct me to the locality, where I had the good fortune to secure a second specimen, also a female, as it was flying lazily over the fern: the date was the middle of July, probably XVIII. 3 N

a month later than usual, owing to the backwardness of the season.-Frederick Bond; 24, Cavendish Road, October 19, 1860.

Description of the Larva of Rumia cralægata.—Rests in nearly a straight posture, the head slightly bent downwards. Head small, slightly notched on the crown, curiously impressed on the face, the impression being double-that is, a small triangular depression within a larger and vaguer one: a large erect nipple-shaped hump, like a horn, on the back of the 7th segment; two small distant warts on the back of the 8th, and two rather larger ones on the back of the 9th; two abortive claspers beneath the 8th segment, and two small but still useable claspers beneath the 9th; a fringe of fleshy tubercles on each side between the 10th and 13th segments; these seem appressed to the twig when the larva is at rest. Colour very inconstant, varying from green to brown, but generally opaque brown. Feeds on Cratægus oxyacantha (whitethorn). There appear to be two broods of this insect; I have had the larva full fed in June, September and October.-Edward Newman.

Description of the Larva of Eurymene dolobraria.—Head divided into two obvious portions, indented on the crown, but not bifid: body with the 3rd segment evidently incrassated or tumid; the 9th with a transverse dorsal swelling; there are no other warts or excrescences either on the back or belly. Colour dark sombre brown, with two distant white dots on the back of the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th segments; spiracles black, but the region around the spiracles rather paler, indistinctly mottled with gray. Feeds on Betula alba (birch); full fed on the 2nd of October; draws the leaves of the food-plant together, and changes to a pupa in the interior; remains a pupa all the winter. I am indebted to Mr. Thomas Huckett for this larva, as well as for the three which follow.-Id.

Description of the Larva of Selenia illunaria.—Head porrected, body when at rest bent back at the 4th segment; the 3rd segment rather tumid at the sides; the 4th rather tumid beneath, the 3rd pair of legs being seated in the swelling; 8th and 9th segments have each a pair of acute, approximate humps on the back. Body bright rust-coloured, but neither uniform in tint as regards a number of individuals, nor of uniform colour in the same individual, there being numerous shades and tints too various and too inconstant to describe; on the back of the 6th segment are two very distinct yellow spots. Feeds on Betula alba (birch), and is double-brooded; the second brood is full fed at the end of September; it spins a slight cocoon among the leaves, and remains in the pupa state all the winter.-Id.

Description of the Larva of Selenia lunaria.-Rests in a curved posture and oscillates the anterior part of the body when disturbed. Head not perceptibly notched; body singularly humped; 3rd segment tumid, having on each side a large subdorsal hump; 4th segment rather tumid below, the legs on the swollen portion; 6th segment with a large transverse dorsal hump, and a smaller obtuse lateral hump on each side; 7th segment with two dorsal warts and a large lateral hump on each side; 8th with two dorsal warts; 9th with a large dorsal hump, having a double indentation on its summit; 12th with two approximate small dorsal warts: colour green, gray or brown, with scarcely any variety of shading. Feeds on Quercus Robur (oak); full fed in Sept.; spins a few leaves together, and remains in the pupa state throughout the winter.-Id.

Description of the Larva of Selenia illustraria.-Head porrected; body when at rest bent back at the 4th segment, which is rather tumid beneath, the third pair of legs being seated on the swelling; the back is bowed and the figure altogether very singular; the 5th and 6th segments have each two small humps on the back; the 8th

and 9th have each four small humps ranged in a transverse linear series; the 12th segment is full and square on the back, but not humped. The colour of this larva is rich purple-brown, varied with beautiful tints of orange-brown and pearly gray, reminding one very forcibly of the exquisite colouring of the perfect insect. Commonly found feeding on Betula alba (birch), but eats the leaves of other trees, and in captivity feeds voraciously on Salix capræa (sallow): it is double-brooded, the first brood of larvæ being full fed on the 5th of July, the second at the end of September; it fastens together the leaves of its food-plant by a few silken threads, and changes to a pupa in the cot thus produced. See a description of this larva by Mr. G. F. Mathew, at page 6789 of the 'Zoologist.'-Edward Newman.

Capture of Dosithea eburnata near Conway. - Having taken one of the above insect on the last day of July, 1856, near Conway, I have visited the locality every year since-last year three times, and three times this year-and found one sitting on the wall on Bangor New Road, about half-way between Conway and the large rock that projects out into the Irish Sea, opposite Puffin Island. My old friend Mr. Gregson was with me when I found it; this was on the 8th of August, 1860. — Thomas Hague; "Dog and Partridge," Staleybridge, September 24, 1860.—' Intelligencer.' Description of the Larva of Acidalia scutulata. Long, slender and tapering towards the head. Ground-colour pale drab, yellowish on the anterior and posterior segments. Central dorsal line very distinct, dark brown, ceasing on the post-capital segment; on either side of the latter the rudiments of a dusky subdorsal line. and sides marbled with indistinct slanting lines and dusky spots. Spiracular line whitish; subspiracular line dusky, waved. Belly dusky, with numerous dark wavy lines and a horizontal chain of dusky oval spots. Body sparingly strewed with short hairs. Taken in October, on flowers of Pimpinella Saxifraga; hybernated and fed-up in April, on flowers of Anthriscus sylvestris.-H. Harpur Crewe; The Rectory, DraytonBeauchamp, Herts, October 17, 1860.

Back

Occurrence of Eupithecia helveticata in Buckinghamshire. About a month since Mr. Wilson kindly sent me a few larvæ of E. helveticata from Scotland. As their food-plant, Juniperus communis, grows wild upon some of our chalk-hills, I thought there was no just cause or impediment why the larva should not occur here as well as on the other side of the Tweed; so I donned my stick and umbrella, and went out for an hour's thrashing. I am happy to say that my labours were crowned with success. I brought home five larvæ. I have been out several times since, and have each time taken a few more. I have little doubt that wherever the juniper grows wild this insect occurs.-Id.

Description of the Larva of Eupithecia abbreviata.—Slender, hairy, tapering towards the head. Ground-colour pale yellowish red. Central dorsal line pale olive. Down the centre of the back a series of pale olive V-shaped spots, sometimes bordered with yellow. Spiracular line yellowish. Segmental divisions red. Central ventral line yellowish, sometimes altogether wanting. Dorsal spots frequently merged in a broad central line. The whole of the markings on this larva vary much in intensity of colouring, but are usually faint and indistinct. Feeds on oak. Full-fed the beginning of July. Pupa enclosed in a slight earthen cocoon; bright red; thorax and wing-cases paler than abdomen; base of wing-cases dusky; abdominal divisions and tip deep red. Perfect insect appears the end of April and in May.—Id.

Note on the Pupation of Eupithecia tenuiata. - The larva of this insect, when full fed, comes out of the sallow catkins, and spins a slight cocoon among earth, roots of

grass or moss. The pupa is pale golden yellow. Abdominal divisions dusky. Thorax and wing-cases having a slight greenish tinge. Eyes prominent, blackish. Abdomen short and curtailed.-H. Harpur Crewe.

Description of the Larva of Cidaria pyraliata.—Long, slender and tapering towards the head. Central dorsal line broad, dark green, bor

Ground-colour grass-green.

dered on either side by a pale yellow line. Segmental divisions yellow. Central ventral line yellow. These larvæ were hatched in March, from dark yellow eggs laid the previous August. They fed till the last month on Galium Mollugo, afterwards on G. aparine. Full-fed the second week in May. The pupa, which was enclosed in a slight cocoon among leaves, was pale drab, resembling in colour the pupa of Ennomos angularia or E. erosaria.-Id.

Description of the Larva of Melanippe hastata. -Head of moderate size: body, when at rest, almost straight; the head not tucked in, and hence the anterior. part of the body not involute; 2nd segment covered with a shining plate; the other segments regularly transversely wrinkled, and of a texture like leather; the 10th segment is rather the largest, and from that the larva tapers slightly to both extremities. Head black and shining: body generally black, but sometimes rich black-brown; ou each side is a continuous series of minute white dots, which form a slender lateral stripe along all the segments except the 2nd and 13th; this stripe is above the spiracles: the spiracles are black, and each is enclosed in a white spot, and below each white spot is a crescentic white marking, the convexity of which is towards the belly, the cusps towards the back; above the slender lateral stripe already described there is sometimes an interrupted subdorsal stripe: all these markings vary occasionally from white to brick-dust red. Feeds on Betula alba (birch) and Myrica Gale (sweet gale). The economy, habit, structure and distribution of colour in the larva of Melanippe hastata are entirely different from those of any other of the genus; it spins together the leaves of its food-plant, and feeds from the inside of the chamber thus formed, sometimes eating through the substance of the leaf, at others eating only the upper surface; it is full feed on the 27th of August, and soon afterwards becomes a pupa, in which state it passes the winter. I am indebted to the Rev. J. Hellins for the free use of his valuable notes in describing the larvæ of the genus Melanippe, and also of a series of most exquisite coloured drawings of each species by Mr. Buckler.-E. Newman.

Description of the Larva of Melanippe tristata.-Cylindrical, slightly attenuated in front, rests in nearly a straight posture, but when disturbed tucks in its head, and the anterior part of the body is then slightly involute. Head brown, dotted with black: body brown, with a dark, nearly black, narrow median stripe; on each side of this are two white dots on each segment; and on each side of the body are two narrow, pale, slightly undulating, stripes, the lower of which is immediately above the spiracles; these two stripes are most delicately margined with black. This larva is extremely constant in colour. Feeds on Galium Mollugo (the great hedge bedstraw), and is full fed on the 1st of August: it spins a slight cocoon on the surface of the earth, and remains in the pupa state throughout the winter.- Id.

Description of the Larva of Melanippe procellata.-Cylindrical and elongate; rests in nearly a straight posture, which it retains when disturbed. Head rather small, brown, dotted with black, and having two divaricating darker stripes, nearest together on the crown and most distant at the mouth: body wainscot-brown, lighter from the 10th to the 13th segments, both inclusive; there is a median varied stripe on the back, commencing indistinctly on the 3rd segment, and dilating into a conspicuous dark

blotch at the commencement of the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th segments; before and after each of these blotches the median stripe assumes a reddish hue, and again assumes a deep black immediately after the red; on each side of this varied median stripe is a paler stripe, also very slender, and beyond these are three smoke-coloured stripes, rather diffuse and ill-defined; the first of these on each side passes into the head, and terminates on each side the mouth, as already described: on the back of each segment are two or four black dots: the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th segments are slightly darker than the rest; the spiracles are black. Feeds on Clematis Vitalba (the traveller's joy), and is full fed on the 16th September; spins a slight web, and remains in the pupa state throughout the winter.-Edward Newman.

Description of the Larva of Melanippe unangulata.—Body stout, rather attenuated at both ends, rests with the bead tucked in, the anterior part of the body, when disturbed, being curled in, or curved in the manner of the Ionic volute. Head brown, beautifully dotted and marked with black: body smoky brown, delicately mottled and varied; the back may be said to have seven smoke-coloured stripes, alternating with paler stripes: the median stripe is not perceptible on either the 2nd or 13th segment, but is distinct and uninterrupted on the 3rd and 4th segments; on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th segments it is suddenly dilated anteriorly, and more gradually posteriorly, and is extremely attenuated and scarcely perceptible on the remaining segments; on each of the interstices between the segments, commencing between the 4th and 5th, is a short transverse reddish band, terminated at each extremity by a longitudinal black spot; the remaining smoke-coloured stripes, three in number on each side of the median stripe, are scarcely susceptible of verbal definition: each segment of the belly after the 4th has a cluster of black dots which are not present in any other British species of the genus, but Mr. Hellins informs me that markings of the same colour and character occur in Cidaria picata. Feeds on Alsine media (chickweed), and is full-fed on the 1st of August; spins its cocoon on or just under the surface of the earth, and remains in the chrysalis state all the winter. In captivity it is sometimes double-brooded, but not in a state of nature. Mr. Hellins observes that the published descriptions of the perfect insect, being drawn from captured or faded specimens, do not mention the lovely purplish red tint which pervades the dark markings of the wings and body while the moth is fresh from the pupa-case, but which cannot be shown in the cabinet, as in a few weeks it seems totally to vanish.-Id.

Description of the Larva of Melanippe rivata.-Head of nearly the same diameter as the body, which is uniformly cylindrical: rests generally in a slightly bent posture, but when disturbed tucks in the head, thus giving to the anterior portion of the body the figure of the Ionic volute. Head dusky brown, with two darker brown lines meeting on the crown: colour of the body red-brown or dingy brown, beautifully variegated and mottled; the 2nd and 3rd segments have a median black line, and on each side of this is a direct white line, which extends into the 4th segment; on each of four succeeding segments is a somewhat horse-shoe-shaped median white mark; these marks might be called lozenge-shaped, but they are open at the posterior extremity; on the 10th segment, and extending thence to the extreme tip of the 13th, is a broad median dark brown stripe, and, separated from this by a space equal to its own diameter, is a white stripe of corresponding length, terminated at its anterior extremity by a somewhat comma-shaped jet-black mark, which has a white dot in the head of the comma; on each side of the median markings is a series of white dots; the 3rd and 4th segments have two dots each, the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th have four