hota fod) foto : aA aha ea yet tia HAMM a tsatiall Haden a Ate atin isda Aa aaa Wa a Re RAR jeune eas AUS a Rs Sa As niet iY" ahaye ty hs Cana A Ba of 38 ay ee aii isha NEA i ais } THUNID ae a "| a aie uh a iin ihe \ ‘ i 4 RCL a y Nant i! Ww eat rb Tk) abs saith oe Ay yin! nt : aml} 4s Ney + wis Dea UNE! iy vib it ’ part MANE Ait fh Dey ae is" Aw) thaw eh vide vedo AN rat Mh \ (ese Bagi Pint Set 3 Nee oe ae tis “lt pi ‘Ge Mig bi Dib Wis PE ILInGes Pith Hig ‘i cane SAL aga! Hien hy HOF: eRe Wi a i : Dat pd DAA i 4 east aks he aH eet re i SR vee PW nor ity al ish Aer ver yy wha +e) eth ey Mb i" WH nda us Key a : ih Kit hi wih i ft les Hae Hi Vi he v ee iM Aa Poni Vent reire bia ich yi ov hve Mash RATA Ni eaten ee ia Tha a AR LY be CIMT ATA ) w i a wig oe a ia Ny PON ae ih " 4 Hh Pay, Aut Bi Cae ii Vy pe as ea € = *T &,” . Ww : ‘ Ph 28 oO ‘4, wa K a et Jy w af oe ry a ENTOMOLOGIST An Allustrates Journal OF GENERAL ENTOMOLOGY. EDITED BY RICHARD SOUTH, F.E.S. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF T. R. BILLUPS, F.E.S. Dr. D. SHARP, F.R.S., F.E.S., &c. W. LUCAS DISTANT, F.E.S., &c. G. H. VERRALL, F.E.S. EDWARD A. FITCH, F.LS., F.E.S. W. WARREN, M.A., F.E.S. MARTIN JACOBY, F.E.S. J. J. WEIR, F.LS., F.Z.S., F.E.S. J. H. LEECH, B.A., F.L.S., F.E.S. F. B. WHITE, M.D., F.L.S., F.E.S. “ By mutual confidence and mutual aid Great deeds are done and great discoveries made.” VOLUME THE TWENTY-FIFTH. LONDON: WEST, NEWMAN & CO., 54, HATTON GARDEN; SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO., LimitEp, 1892, “Sometimes I let a sunbeam slip To light her shaded eye; A second fluttered round her lip Like a golden butterfly.” “Through the sunny summer sky, Came a sailing butterfly. Dancing through the sweet sunshine, Glad with clover’s ruddy wine! Stopping just to gaily sip The wild pansy’s purple lip, Or to softly swing and rest On an apple-blossom’s breast, Or to steal the fluffy gold That the buttercups do hold, Or to watch the blossoming grass Ripple, when the light winds pass ! TENNYSON. But still sailing on and on, Till she found the sunshine gone; Frightened then by fading light, And the softly gathering night, She would chase the flying day, So she stops to ask the way— Lights upon a swinging nest: ‘Right or left ? which way is West?’ And a young bird answers low,— ‘On towards the summer’s glow!’ * * * * * * So she fluttered from the nest, Seeking still the yellow West!” MArGARET DELAND. ‘A flight of yellow butterflies, In slow and airy quiver, Winged downwards.”’ Harriet Eneanor Kina. CONTENTS. > ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. Apri, Rost., F.H.S., 19, 25, 538, 105, 129, 159, 165, 169, 209, 279, 318 Apy#, J. M., F.E.S., 16, 19, 166, 211, 289 ALDERSON, E. G., 313 ALLEN, W. EH. R., 244 ANDERSON, JOSEPH, Jun., 95, 210, 216, 221, 245, 290, 311, 319, 322 Arcent, J. Bernarp, 243, 277 ARKLE, J., 57, 122, 146, 164, 169, 222, 223, 237, 248, 276, 312, 315, 320 AsHFoRD, JoHN H., 166 Austen, W. J., 16, 288 Bangs, Eustace R., 20, 120 Barrett, Cuarues G., F.E.S., 215 Bartiett, Cuas., 276, 277, 312 Basurorp, Mrs. A., 311 Batu, W. Harcourt, 47 Baxter, E., 277 Brapiz, H. A., 219 Bratss,, J. H. D., 16 Beprorp, F. P., 120 [310 Brrcuine, R. A. Dawuas, F.E.S., 193, Brut, Joun C., 275 BrEnTHALL, O. W., 289 Brppiz, F. W., M.A., F.E.S., 94 Bienetu, G. C., F.E.S., 256 Brrp, C. A., 194 BirkenHEAD, G. A., 197, 287, 311 BissHopp, EH. F., 308, 311 Braner, W. H., F.L.S., F.E.S., 310 Buaczmore, E. H., 321 Buaae, E. W. H., 121, 308 Buatuwayt, F. L., 211, 223, 247, 278 BuoomrrewD, E. N., 288 Bonuotet, J. Lewis, 44, 209, 217 Bonus, ALBERT, 165 Booru, Gro. A., 280 Brapy, L. S., 313 BraMELp, R. E., 166 Briges, C. A., F.E.S., 148, 233, 274 Brides, F. J., 45 Briaes, T. H., 145, 165 Bristowg, B. A., 121 Bromitow, F., 142, 193, 194, 245, 288, 291, 319, 323 Bromiezy, T., 310 Brooxsz, HE. Gorpon, 221, 222, 290, 312 Brooke, E. Gorpvon C., 208, 290 Brown, H. Rownanp, M.A., 138, 165, 174, 209, 282 Burn, H. J., 208 Butter, Arruur G., F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.E.S., 10, 20, 26, 62, 90, 140, 188, 211, 283 Butter, W. H., 118, 145, 275, 280, 287 Byrne, R. H., 321 Campripar, A. W. PicKkarp, 196 CaMBRIDGE, Rev. O. Pickarp, F.R.S., 82, 119, 195, 196 CanspaLeE, W. D., 309 Cant, A., F.E.S., 119 CaRPENTER, JosEPH H., 243, 245 Carr, J. W., 281 Carr, W. D., 244, 281 Cuapwicr, H. E. L., 310 Cuampers, EK. R., 278, 279, 280, 311 Cuampneys, M., 279 CHapman, T. A., M.D., F.E.S., 302 CHITTENDEN, D., 279, 289 [319 Cristy, W. M., F.E.S., 18, 165, 172, CuarKE, J., 145, 275 Cuaxton, Rev. W., 93, 235, 277, 287, 288, 309, 312, 319 Curout, GxEo., 289 CockERELL, T. D. A., F.Z.8., F.E.S., 93, 115, 130, 180, 203 Cooper, J. A., 194 [F.L.S., 28 Costr, F. H. Perry, B.Se., F.C.S., CrastrEE, B. H., 208, 280 Crane, Percy, 192, 193 CrawsHay, Lionet R., 124 Criprs, JoHN M., 289 Dare, C. W., F.E.S., 72 (168, 290 Dautry, Rev. T. W., F.E.S., 70, 95, Distant, ALEX., 209, 290 Distant, W. L., F.E.S., M.A.L., 210 Dosreze, N. F., F.E.S., 143 Dymonp, R., 279 Epprup, Rev. T. B., 312 Epwarps, WinuiAm H., 164 Euis, Joun W., F.E.S., 143 Enock, Frep., F.L.S., F.E.S., 230 Esam, W. W., 210, 220 Farren, W., F.E.S., 275 Frutows, E. G., 322 Frrris, W. A. B., 222 Frevp, A. Cowrrr, 318 Fitcu, Epwarp A., F.E.S., 168 Firz-Giszpon, Mavriczr, 39, 287, 312 FrLoop, FREDERICK, 168, 309 Fowter, J. H., 247, 269 Fronawk, F. W., F.E.S., 120, 201, 215, 216, 217, 225, 242, 243, 244, 254, 271 GarpE, Puruip DE 1A, 192, 195,209, 248 Garrow, Jas., 319 Gentry, H. C., 310 Gites, L. §8., 210 GorHam, Rev. H. S., F.Z:8., F.E.S., 304 M.A., iv Goss, H., F.L.S., F.G.S., F.E.S., 47, Goutrty, W. Howaro, 19, 119 [198 Hau, A. E., F.E.S., 47 Harzis, C. RE 312 Harrison, J., 71 Hart, E. Percrvan, 191 Hawes, F. W., 177 Heaptsy, C. B., 144 Hewerr, W., 95, 124, 163, 164, 170, 312 Hin, Henry A, 278, 280, 281, 311 Hoper, Haron, "981 (144, 244 Hopexinson, J. B., F.E.S., 15, 16, 44, 71, Hopeson, R. L., 308 Hopkins, Hue K., 278, 310 Hueurs, G., 313 Hunt, Hersert F., 276, 281 Jackson, W. R. Warp, 219 Jacopy, Martin, F.E.S., 162 JacER, J., 15, 43 James, Russect E., 65, 220, 308 Jerrerys, T. B., 68, 192, 311, 322 JENNER, J. H. A., F.E.S., 286 Jones, F. W., 221 Kayr, W. J., 194, 292, 309, 313 Kerry, F., 277, 231, 321 Kiprine, Gs 209 Kierrne, S., 193 Kirpy, W. F., F.L.S8., F.E.S., 186, 267 Lappiman, R., 1, 277, 281, 282, 291 Lamp, C. E., 288 Lampert, F. W., 192, 275, 277, 282, 321 Lanz, W. E., 281 Lane, W. T., 208 Latuy, P. T., 192, 194, 218, 279, 289, 311 Law, Crcin, 277 Lawson, R., 313 [218 Lercu, J. H.,B.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.E.S., Lrewineron, W., 281 McDowatut, H., 145 Macrert, W. H., 166, 211, 278, 288 Macxkonocuin, Rey. J. C., 245, 278 Mann, W. K., 293 Matuew, Gervask F., F.L.S., F.Z.S8., JIS e Shy oS IE Ae Pr. Oise Ale 289, 291, 292, 321 Map, Epwarp, 71 Mrap, W. J., 121 MENNELL, Epwarp N., 166 Mera, A. W., 191 MitcHetn, A. T., 17, 20 Moors, J., 311 Morris, C. G., 210, 221 Moss, A. M., 245 Neuson, Wm. G., 282 Nevinson, E. B., 144, 169 Newman, T. P., F.E.S., 168, 209 Norris, Frank B., 95, 239, 261 Nussry, B. L., 210 OLDFIELD, GrorcE W., F.E.S., 209 PEARCE, W. Oe 192 PEARSON, Dovezas H., 163, 170, 282, 291 PEERS, C. R:, 193 Puipps, MarrnHew M., 220 Pintry, J. B., 279 CONTENTS. Postans, R. B., 243 Porter, E. C., 312 Pripravx, R. M., 163, 218, 221, 309 Purpry, W., 16 Raynor, Rev. G. H., 121, 195, 289 RensHaw, G., 173 RensuHaw, 8., 243, 276 Rerp, 8. G., 220 Rew, Wm., F.E.S., 94, 123 [308 RenpiLEsHAM, Rt. Hon. Lord, F.E.S., 244, Ripizy, Pure W., 169, 246, 308 Rosinson, F. J., 309 RoutritepGE, Mary G., 169 Sasine, H., 279 Sansom, T. E., 43 SEARANCKE, N. F., 208, 222 SELF, Epwarp, 211 SELIGMANN, C. G., 192 Setton, Lronarp S., 234 SHarp, Dr. D., F.R.S., 54, 119 SHEPHEARD, H. W., 280 Sicu, A., 279, 281, 288, 290 SmitH, Rey. B., 94 Situ, C. B., 44 SmitH, C. RHoapEs, 282, 289 SmitH, JoHn B., Sc. D., 2, 101 Smitn, W. W., 27, 70, 80 Sour, Rrcuarp, F.E.S., 1, 4, 29, 69, 72, 86, 110, 134, 153, 168, 173, 195, 209, 216, 259, 291 SPELLER, CHARiEs, 277 Str. Joun, Rev. J. Szymour, B.A., F.E.S., 45, 167, 281 Strepsine, HE. P., 164 Stewart, Doveuas Stuart, 247 [305 Srizz, Major Joun N., F.E.S., 44, 228, Strupp, E. F., 123, 124, 192, 276 Swamy, A. C., 309 Sykes, Henry D., 69, 84, 162, 309, 310 TaLuiIn, BERTRAM, 276 Tarpat, Rev. J. E., 312 THELSON, Wm. G., 280 Tuomas, A. M. PatrsHattn, 311 Tomuin, E. CnariBen, 163, 208, 209 Tomurnson, H. W., 275, 282 TuGwELL, W. H., Ph.C., M.P.S., 41, 156 ViaaErs, C., 289 WaLDEGRAVE, Rt. Hon. Earl, 277, 308 Waker, Rev. F. A., D.D., F.E.S., 36, 277, 281, 292, 320 Waits, Eustace F., 282 Watwyn, H. W. SHEPHEARD, 290 Warp, J. H., 277 Watkins, Wiuitam, 143 Wess, H. J., 167 WEBSTER, JOHN, 208, 280 Wetts, C. M., 67, 193 Wiper, H., 209, 210, 222, 244 Wituiams, J. T., 167 Wiuson, Maner A., 243, 275 WooprorpEk, F. C., 197, 241, 307, 313 Wootzy, H. S., 191 Worsry, HE. H., 276 CONTENTS. ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SUBJECTS. ABERDEENSHIRE—Collecting in, 123 Abraxas grossulariata, variation pro- duced by food, 251; ulmata, late apearance of, 293,—vars. of, 297 Abundance, of Uropteryx sambucaria and Timandra amataria, 222 sot Cosmia paleacea, 222; of Pieris brassice larve, 287; of Erebia blandina, 288; of Tortrix rufana, 317; of Satyrus semele, 322; the recent, of Plusia gamma and Va- nessa cardui, 159, 164, 192; of Colias, 220; of Argynnis paphia in Gloucestershire, 222 Acherontia atropos at Chichester, 220,— on the Kentish coast, 321 Acidalia emutaria, 18, 23; subsericeata, 68, 158; inornata, 158; bisetata, assembling of males of, 218; conti- guaria, 316; fumata, 317 Aciptilia paludum, 84 Acronycta alni, 199, 222, 247, 251,—larvee of, 18,—use of hairs of, 39,—near Tunbridge Wells, 289; leporina, 46, 158, 199, 251,—larve of, 229; ligus- tri, 67, 158, 246; tridens, 67; myrice, 123; auricoma, 158 ; tincta, 246 Agrotera nemoralis, 159 Agrotis obelisca, 50; lunigera, 50; can- delabrum, 75,—var. ashworthii, 75, 297, 316 ; lucernea, 144, 327; saucia, 298, 319, 323 Albia fasciata, 22 Amalopsis littoralis, 328 Amphidasys betularia, 224,—assembling of, 194 Amphonyx medon, 325 Anosia plexippus, L., var. erippus, in Falkland Islands, 175 Anthocharis cardamines, 20,—eges of, 142 Anticlea rubidata the second year in pupa, 221; sinuata, 229, 252 Ants, Indian, 96; from Calcutta, 98; in Australia, 73 Apamea ophiogramma, 66, 224, 249,—at Enfield, 221 Apatura iris, 18, 218, 247, 262, 314, 319; ilea, Hb., var. clytie, 262 Aplecta tincta, 46, 158, 224, 246 Aporia crategi, 217,—in England, 143, 233,—a disclaimer, 274 Arctia caia, 57,—second brood of larve, 320,—from larvex fed on lettuce, 223, —variety of, 1, 57, 199,—xanthic, variety of, 290; fuliginosa, second brood, 287 Are Jersey insects British? 320 Argynnis latona, 15, 150, 263, — in Devonshire, 124; dia, 15, 263 paphia, 18, 175, 262, 326,—near Brecon, 221,—white-spotted spe- cimens of, 223,—abundance in Gloucestershire, 222,—gynandrous specimens of, 151,—var. valesina, 15,—aberration, 242; pales, 37,— var. lapponica, 37,—isis, and var. arsilache, 294; aglaia, 150, 262 2 euphrosyne, 150,—var. of, 294,— dark variety of, 296; selene, 157, 198, 263; adippe, 262, 276; niobe, 262; amathusa, 263; hecate, 265 Asphalia flavicornis, eggs of, 146 Assembling, 22, 163; in Lepidoptera, 84, 121; of males of Acidalia bise- tata, 218; of Larentia multistrigaria, 170; of Amphidasys betularia, 195 Astata stigma, 24 Asteroscopus sphinx, 24, 45, 320; nube- culosa, 23, 175,—food of larva of, 175, 195 Asthena blomeri, 200, 223,—-variety of, 251; sylvata, 229 Attacus atlas, Linn., on the identification of, and its allies, with remarks on some other species of the genus, 186; cecropia, 22 BrprorpsaH1re—Colias edusa, C. hyale, &e., in, 275 Bembidium saxatile, 297 BERKSHIRE—Notes from Reading, 145; C. edusa, &c., in, 275 Biston hirtaria, colour-variation in the ova of, 129, 163 Boarmia roboraria, 18, 66 Bohemannia quadrimaculella, 84 Boletobia fuliginaria, 151 Bombyx quercus pupating in Sept., 12i Booxs Revrewrp :— ‘Delagoa Bay : its Natives and Natural History,’ by Rose Monteiro, 51 ‘Journal of the Institute of Jamaica,’ vol. i, no. 1, 51 ‘A List ofthe Lepidoptera of Balerno, Midlothian,’ by E. W. Carlier, 51 ‘Diptera of West Cornwall,’ by C. W. Dale, 52 ‘Catalogue Raisonné of Silk- producing Lepidoptera,’ by Alfred Wailly, 52 ‘An Elementary Manual of N. Zealand Entomology,’ by G. V. Hudson, 52 ‘Transactions of the City of London Entomological & N. H. Soc., 1891, 52 vl GONTENTS. ‘Bug-hunting,’ Hewett, 142 ‘Elementary Text Book of Entomo- logy,’ by W. F. Kirby, 252 ‘The Lepidoptera of Dorsetshire,’ by C. W. Dale, 252 ‘Butterflies of the Riviera,’ by Frank Bromilow, 252 ‘A Synonymic Catalogue of Lepidop- tera Heterocera (Moths),’ by W. F. Kirby, 298 ‘Rhopalocera Exotica,’ by H. Grose Smith and W. F. Kirby, 299 Botys, 328,—new species of, allied to fuscalis, 250, 328; lancealis, 159; fuscalis, 328 BrecknocksHire — Argynnis paphia at Brecon, 221 Breeders of Lepidoptera, a hint to, 143 Breeding Parnassius delius, 234 Brephos parthenias at Delamere Forest, 163 Bromolocha fontis, 229 Bryophila perla, 151; muralis, 326 Bryotropha obscurella, 15 Bucculatrix cidariella, 84 Butterflies, pheism of Java, 43; wet- season and dry-season forms, 98; scarce in June and July, 1892, 195; in Alpes-Maritimes, 245; varieties of, 288 ; attacked by red insects, 311 Calligenia miniata, 315 Callimorpha hera, 24, 224, 256, 327,— var. lutescens, 327; dominula, 174, 229 CaMBRIDGESHIRE — Vanessa antiopa in, 243; Colias edusa, &e., in, 275 Carpocapsa pomonella, 199 Carsia paludata, 144; imbutata, 245, 317 Carterocephalus palemon, 248, 264, 265, — life-history of, 225, 254 Cassida sanguinolenta, 297 Catocala fraxini, 15; nupta, resting on concrete walls, 69,—at rest, 94,— aberration, 243,—varieties of, 249 ; promissa, 314; sponsa, 314 Catoptria juliana, 199 Cecid bred from Coccidex, 180 Celena haworthii, 222,—food-plant of, 245 Cerostoma, lucella, 83 Cerura vinula, erratic appearance of, 287 Ceruras, emergence of, 302 CuanneL Is~tanps— Notes from, 252; Macroglossa stellatarum in Jersey, 194 Chareas graminis, 246 Charaxes jasius, 95, 323 Cuusuire—Plusia gamma amd Vanessa cardui at Chester, 164, 221; abun- dance of Uropteryx sambucaria and Timandra amataria at Chester, 222; Acherontia atropos at Chester, 220 ; sugar at Chester, 248; C. edusa, &c., in, 276. Delamere Forest,—Brephos parthenias at, 163; forms of Hyber- nia leucophearia, 164; Whit-Monday in, 169; Libellula quadrimaculata and L. scotica in, 169 Choerocampa celerio, 24,—in Kent, 289, —in Sussex, 318; nerii, an addi- tional record, 123 Chrysoclysta bimaculella, 21 Cidaria reticulata, 15, 327; siterata, 45 ; picata, 67; suffumata, note on, 216; populata, in Lancashire, 245 Clearwings in North Staffordshire, 95 Cleodora cytisella, 83 Cleora glabraria, 82,— protracted larval stage of, 18; lichenaria, 66, 67 Coccide, a cecid bred from, 180,—from Jamaica, 119 Coccinella ocellata and C. euttata, vars. of, 294 Coenonympha typhon, 144 Coleophora metallicella, n. s., 44 Colias, abundance of, 229; edusa, on the earlier stages of, 201,—var. helice, 240, 249, 250, with broad biack band, 250,—and hyale, in 1892, 164, 192, 208, 241, 247, 275, 307; hyale, on the earlier stages of, 271; paleno, 240 Colletes cunicularia, 24 Colour variation in ova of Biston hirtaria, 129, 163; influenced by artificial temperature, 21; evolution of, 27, 28; of cocoons, caused by renal ex- creta, 99; variation, 21; protective, of Lophopteryx camelina, 68 Conchylis francillana, 26 ‘* Coppers,” present price of, 142 Coremia ferrugata, 326; unidentaria, 326 CoRNWALL — Lepidoptera from Scilly Isles, 98 Correction, a, 173 Cosmia affinis, 68; diffinis, 68, 319; pa- leacea (Kuperis fulvago), abundance of, in Sherwood Forest, 222, 244; pyralina, 322 Cosmopteryx orichalcella in Dorset, 195 Cossus ligniperda, 46 Crambus myellus, 152; selasellus, 317; margaritellus, 317 Cryptoblabes bistriga, 82 Cucullia chamomille, 16; gnaphalii at Tunbridge Wells, 220 CumBrriLAND—A day on the mountains, 169, 218; Deilephila livornica near Carlisle, 169 Cymatophora ocularis, 199 Cystocelia immaculata, 96 Danais (Anosia) plexippus at Ashburton, r 33 7 Dasycampa rubiginea in the Isle of Pur- beck, 20,—at Poole, 16 Dasydia tenebraria, var. wockearia, 294 oblongo- CONTENTS. Dasypolia templi at Poole, 16 Deilephila euphorbiw, 21; livornica at Dorking, 168,—near Carlisle, 169,— at Winchester, 169,—in the New Forest, 218 Deiopeia pulchella, 166, 192, 196, 249, 296, 322,—in England, 153,—at Dover, 167,—at North London, 167, —additional records, 191,—at St. Leonards, 220,—at Brighton, 221,— in South Wales, 244—near South- ampton, 244,—in Hastings district, 288,—at Folkestone, 288,—variation of, 168 Demas coryli, 173 DervonsoireE—Notes from Plymouth, 45 ; a month’s collecting at Sidmouth, 67; Argynnis latona in, 124; Colias edusa in, 165, 208, 276; Macro- glossa stellatarum, abundant in, 194; Lycena arion in 8. Devon, 221; Sphinx convolvuli, 282; on the borders of Dartmoor, 228 Dianthecia carpophaga, 46,—var. cap- sophila, 25; cucubali, 46, 67, 173; barrettii, 97, 326; nana, 296; compta, 297; cesia, 297 Diasemia literata, 295 Dicranura bifida, 65, 68, 322); vinula, 324; fureula, 65 Dicycla oo, 199 Dioctria baumhaueri, 328; ‘reinhardi, 328; rufipes, 328 Diphthera orion, 46, 158 Diptera, captures in 1891, 72; taken at Sherwood, 199 Ditula semifasciana, 82 DorsetsHtrE—Dasycampa rubiginea and Dasypolia templi at Poole, 16; Cos- mopteryx orichalcella in, 195; Scybalicus oblongiusculus in, 196; Noctuz in, 196; notes from Swan- age, 313; Lepidoptera taken round oa 82; Colias edusa, 208, i Drepana binaria, 16; hamula, 82; fal- cula and sicula, confusion between larvee of, 218; falcataria, 309 ; lacer- tinaria, 309 Druryia antimachus, female, 143 Early moths, 122, 145; Lepidoptera in Yorks, 164 Editorial, 1, 301 Elachista cingilella, 21; subocellea, 78 Elater, description of a new species of, 304; miniatus, n. sp., 304; pomone, 304; preustus, 305; sanguineus, 305; lythropterus, 305 Electric light, the, 247 Electricity for entomologists, 214 Emergence, retarded, of E. versicolor, 121 Emmelesia albulata, double-brooded, 289 Emydia cribrum, observations on, 267 vil Endromis versicolor, retarded emergence of, 121 Ennomos tiliaria, 67,252; erosaria, 252, 315; angularia, vars. of, 294 ; autum- naria (alniaria) in Kent, 319 Ennychia octomaculalis, 159 Entomological Club of London, the, 4, 51, 200, 328 ENtTomoLoaicaL SocretrrEs—London, 20, 48, 72, 96, 125, 147, 174, 223, 293, 328; Birmingham, 24, 50, 75, 100, 152, 176, 199, 224, 250, 297, 328; South London, 22, 49, 73, 98, 125, 126, 142, 149,175, 198, 248, 295, 328; Lancashire and Cheshire, 23, 50, 75, 98, 127, 152, 251, 297, 328; North Kent, 152, 176; Cambridge, 128, 176, 200, 328; York and District, 200, 251, 297 Ephestia kuhniella, 53 Epinephele ianira, 150, 224,—var. of, 264, 296; hyperanthes, 223, 264,— varieties of, 215, 243,—with lanceo- late markings, 248; tithonus, 264 Epione vespertaria, late specimen of, 124,—variety of, 251; advenaria, 200; apiciaria, var. of, 297 Epunda nigra, 47 ! Erastria fuscula, 156; fasciana, 229,— (= fuscula), food-plant of, 230 Erebia ligea, 263,—var. medusa, 37; lappona, 37; epiphron, 144; cas- siope, 219; melampus, 263, 294; evias, 263; ethiops, 244, 263,—ab. leucotenia, 263; semele, 263; ne- rine, 265, 294; blandina, abundance of, 288; melas, 294 Erogaster lanestris, on variation in colour of cocoons of, 21 Essrx—Hesperia lineola at Harwich, 17; larve-beating in Epping Forest, 44; Colias edusa in, 193, 208, 279; Plusiide in, 193; captures in the Cheltenham district, 222; Lycena corydon in Epping Forest, 243; mi- gration of Pieris rape at Harwich, EKuchelia jacobex, xanthic variety of, 216 Euchloé cardamines, 22,—in August, 244,—dwarf specimens of, 294; eu- pheno, Z., var. euphenoides, 239; belia, 240,—var. simplonia, 240 Eucosmia undulata, 297 EKugonia erosaria, 25 ; (Ennomos) autum- naria, 322,—(alniaria) at Chichester, 290; alniaria (tiliaria), 320 Kuperia fulvago, 176 EKupisteria heparata, 229 EKupithecia coronata, 310,—double-brood- edness of, 18,—var. castigata, 41, 49 ; virgaureata, 49; pygmeta, 47; abbreviata, 172; absinthiata, 292; stevensata, 326 68; obliterata, Vili Kupecilia vectisana, 73; pallidana, 82 ; geyeriana, 82, 119 Euproctis fulviceps, 72 Eupunda nigra, 47 Eurymene dolobraria, 173, 176 Evolution, of colours in the Vanesse, 27, —of insect colours, 28 Farxianp Istanps—Anosia plexippus, L., var. erippus, in, 175 Fidonia atomaria, 326 France—Lepidoptera in the South of, 323 Fruit as a bait, 19 Gastrophilus equi, 50 Gelechia osseella, 21; albiceps, 83 Geometra papilionaria, 46, 315 Grermany— Lepidoptera in the Black Forest, 218; Rhopalocera in Central, 15 GLOUCESTERSHIRE—Notes on Lepidoptera near Gloucester, 222; abundance of Argynnis paphia in, 222; Colias edusa, 208, 277; Cheltenham dis- trict, 222 Gnats, query respecting, 95 Gnophos obscurata, 324 Gonopteryx rhamni, flying in December, 18; cleopatra, 240 Gortyna ochracea, 291 Gracilaria elongella, 83 ; semifascia, 83 ; phasianipenella, 83,—var. quadrup- lella, 83; stramineella, 144 Grapholitha cinerana, 295 ; nisella, 295, —var. pavonana, 295,—var. boebe- rana, 295,—var. rhombifasciana, 295 Hadena satura, 16, 297,—in the far north, 94,—in Kent, 244; glauca, 144; contigua, 199; oleracea, 326 Halietus atricornis, 24 Hants—Notes from New Forest, 17 ,al3; sugaring a failure, 19; the New Forest Bill, 1892, 47; Colias edusa in, 165, 192, 211,277,—at Christchurch, 166 > Deiopeia pulchella at Southsea, 166, —near Christchurch, 166, 191,—at Southampton, 244; a fortnight in the New Forest, 169; proposed rifle range in New Forest, 198; Deilephila livornica at Winchester, 169,—in the New Forest, 218; Plusia moneta in, 220; captures in New Forest, 247; Sphinx convolvuli, 289 Helias prasinana, gynandromorphous specimen, 327 Heliothis dipsaceus, 18, 247; armigera (tomato caterpillar), 237,—at Chi- chester, 319 Hellebore as an insecticide, 80 Hercina phrygialis, 328 HEREFORDSHIRE — Lepidoptera, 142,— captures at Hereford, 223; Colias edusa, 211, 278 CONTENTS. HERTFORDSHIRE—OColias edusa, 279 ; half- holiday at Rickmansworth, 173 Hesperia lineola, 17, 264, 289,—on the earlier stages of, 177; actzon, 314,— observations on, 235; thaumas, 264 Horianp—Notes on the entomology of, 292 Homaloplia ruricola, 321 Hybernia defoliaria, early appearance of, 287; leucophxaria, Delamere Forest forms, 164 Hybocampa milhauseri, 302 Hyria auroraria, 19; muricata, 317 Insect Fauna of Middlesex, preliminary list, 115, 130, 182, 203 Insects at sea, 250 IrnrLanp—Locality for Nyssia zonaria, 145 Iridomyrmex purpurens, 73; rufoniger, 73; gracilis, 73 Isolation as a factor in the evolution of species, 250 Irany—Spring Lepidoptera in, 138 JamatcA—Coccide from, 119 Java—Pheism of butterflies, 43 Jersey insects British ?, 320 Kent—Lycena bellargus (adonis) at Folkestone, 16; Deiopeia pulchella at Dover, 67,—variation of, 168,— at Folkestone, 288 ; Colias edusa in, 192, 208, 279; Plusia moneta at Tun- bridge Wells, 1892, 193, 220,—and Cucullia gnaphalii at Tunbridge Wells, 220; Hadena satura in, 244; Choerocampa celerio in, 288; Sphinx convolvuli, 289; Ennomos autumn- aria (alniaria) in, 319; captures at Folkestone, 322; Notes from the coast, 321 Lancasuire—Captures in, 19; Vanesside in, 243; Carsia imbutata in, 245; Cidaria populata in, 245; Colias edusa, 208, 279; Erebia xthiops at Arncliffe, 244 Laphygma exigua, 98 Larentia multistrigaria, ‘Cassembling,”’ 170 Larva, of N. ribesii, cure for ravages of, 44; of Apamea ophiogramma in Notts, 69; of Tortrix viridana, abun- dant, 164; of Asteroscopus nube- culosa, food of, 173; of Hesperia comma, 224; of Acronycta leporina, 229; of Polyommatus alciphron, var. gordius, Stgr., 288, 319 ; Macro- glossa stellatarum, 288; of Deile- phila galii at Chiswick, 280 Larvee, of Macroglossa fuciformis, 18 ; of Nola strigula, 18; of Psilura mona- cha, 18; of Drepana binaria, 18; of Stauropus fagi, 18; of Pterostoma palpina, 18; of Acronycta alni, 18; of Cleora glabraria, 18; of Conchylis CONTENTS. francillana, 26; beating in Epping Forest, 44; of Notodonta dictzxoides, 94; trepida, 18; chaonia, 18; tri- macula, 18; of Drepana falcula and D. sicula, confusion between, 218; of Vanessa cardui at Chester, 221; of Pieris brassice, abundance of, 287; of Saturnia pavonia (car- pini), on birch, 287 Latinity, barbarous, 93 Laverna propinquella, 83 Ledra aurita, 96 Leicester — Spring captures at, 144; Colias edusa, 280 Lepidoptera, Micro-, rare, 15; abundance of certain, at Willesden, 16; bred in 1891, 18; ‘‘sugar’’ versus fruit as a bait, 19; effects of artificial temperature on colour of, 21; past wet summer and its probable effect upon the development of, 25; notes on British, 29, 86, 110, 134; in the neighbourhood of Roldal (Norway), 36; of Bognor, 69; of the Shetland Isles, 72; taken in 1891, 82, 119; assembling in, 84, 121; relaxing, 119,—Exotic, 95, 119; from the Scilly Isles, 98; effects of tempera- ture on, 126; micro, at Burton-on- Trent, 197; spring, in Italy, 138; Herefordshire, 142; a hint to breed- ers of, 143; of East Sussex in early June, 156; assembling, 163; early, in Yorkshire, 164; in the Black Forest, Germany, 218; notes on, near Gloucester, 222; genital structure of, 251; in Shropshire, notes on, 321; in South Wales, 322 ; injurious, 322; in the South of France, 323; some collected at Ran- noch in 1891, 105 Leucania extranea in the Isle of Pur- beck, 20; vitellina, 98 Leucophasia sinapis, 240; 240; erysimi, 240 ee quadrimaculata, 169; scotica, 169 Light, electric, 214, 247; indoor, 305; male and female moths at, 320 Limnobia bifasciata, 328 Lincotnsurre — Macroglossa bombyli- formis, 195; Colias edusa, 281 Liparis monacha, 66, 247, 315,—var. eremita, Ochs., 22 Lists, local, 215 Lithocolletis anderide, 84 Lithosia deplana, 18; quadra, 18, 66; mesomella, 229; aureola, 158; mus- cerda, 296 Lobophora sexalista, 68 ; hexapterata, 252 Longicorn, taken fifty miles at sea, 250 eae noneery= camelina, protective colour or, diniensis, 1x Lycena arion, 15, 51, 262,—in Forest of Dean, 291, 321,—in South Devon, 221; argiades, 21; rhymnus, 21; tengstroemii, 21; pretiosa, 21 ; icarus, 23, 151, 249; argiolus, 67, 247, 262; cyllarus, 95, 262; dispar, 196; baton, 239; melanops, 239; orion, 241, 265; orbitulus, 241; eros, 241, 266; amandus, 241; hylas, 241; meleager, 241,— ab. steveni, 266; corydon, in Epping Forest, 243; bellargus, 249,—vavr. of, 16,296; semi- argus, 262; minimus, 262; sebrus, 266; admetus, var. ripperti, 266; astrarche (agestis), var. salmacis, 318 ; beetica, 323; telicanus, 95, 241, 323 Macaria alternata, 82; notata, 193 Macroglossa nox, Newman, 20; bombyli- formis, 95,—in Lincolnshire, 195 ; fu- ciformis, 18,—feeding on snowberry, 121; stellatarum, at Haslemere, 168, —abundant in N. Devon, 194,—in Jersey, 194,—larva of, 289 Male versus female moths at light, 320 Mamestra anceps, 158 Mecostethus grossus, 294 Megarhina hemorrhoidalis, 148 Melanargia syllius, 239; galatea, var. leucomelas, 266 Melanippe unangulata, 67, 90, 229, 310; hastata, 87, 296,—-var., 286 ; tristata, L., 88; procellata, 90; sociata, 110,— var. obscurata, 111; rivata, 112; montanata, 113,—var. shetlandica, 113; fluctuata, 136; galeata, 134 Melanthia albicillata, 18, 229, 246; rubi- ginata, vars. of, 298 Melissoblaptes gullaris, Zeller, a new granary pest, 286 Melitwza cinxia, 37, 198, 262; artemis, 197; athalia, 198, 228, 262; aurelia, Nick., var. britomartis, 262; dic- tynna, 262; deione, 262 Mesites tardii, 149 Micropteryx salopiella, 45; sangii, 71, 144; caledoniella, 71 Mrppiesex—Lepidoptera at Willesden, 16; insect fauna of, 174; preliminary list of the insect-fauna of, 115, 130, 182, 203; Colias edusa in London, 164, 209. 281; Dianthcecia capso- phila in East London, 191; Plusia moneta in, 193; Apamea ophio- gramma at Enfield, 221; Sirex ju- vencus in, 245; larva of Deilephila galii, 280; Deiopeia pulchella in E. London, 191 ; Sphinx convolvuli, 289 Mimeseoptilus bipunctidactylus, second brood, 16 Moth traps, 172 Moths, early, notes on the, 122, 145,— usually common, scarce in 1891, 124 b x CONTENTS. New Forest Bill, 1892, 47, 198 Nematus ribesii, cure for the ravages of the larve of, 44 New Zeavanp—Danais (Anosia) plexip- pus at Ashburton, 70 Noctua, an undetermined, 294; dahlii, 24, 67, 246; brunnea, 29; sobrina, 50, 298; flammatra, 98; festiva, 31, 149,—var. contlua, 149; ditrapezium, 196'; glareosa, 246 Noctuz in Dorsetshire, 196 Noctuid moths, notes on the synonymy of, 10, 62, 90, 140, 188, 211, 283; sy- nonymy of American, 26 Noctuidx, Mr. Butler’s notes on synony- my of North American, 2; note on generic characters in the, 101 Nola strigula, 18; confusalis, 128, 172 Nonagria canne, 296; concolor, 325 Norrotk—Sirex juvencus at Norwich, 291; Colias edusa, 282 Norway—Lepidoptera in neighbourhood of Roldal, 36 Notes, from the north-west counties, 315 ; on the season of 1891, 65,—on Lepi- doptera near Gloucester, 222,—on British, 29, 86, 134,—taken in 1891, 82, 119,—at Chichester, 322; on sugar, 95; on Italian Rhopalocera, 95, 239, 261; on early moths, 122, 145; on the season (Windermere), 245; on various species of Satur- niidx, &c., belonging to the genera Philosamia, Buna, Antherea, Gy- nanisa, Automeris, and Carthea, 267 ; on entomology of Holland, 292 NorTHAMPTONSHIRE—Colias edusa, 282 Notodonta trepida, 18, 46, 176,—erratic emergences of, 18; chaonia, 18, 46, 297 ; trimacula, 18, 173; dicteoides, breeding, 20, 71, 144,—rearing larvee of, 94; dictwa, 46, 67, 68, 94, 322,— bred, 170; bicolora, 125; carmelita, 298; dromedarius, 321; bicolor, 526 Norrs—NSirex juvencus in, 291; larva of Apamea ophiogramma in, 69 ; abun- dance of Cosmia paleacea (Huperia fulvago) in Sherwood Forest, 222, 244; Colias edusa, 282 Nyssia hispidaria, 67, 122,146; zonaria, another lrish locality for, 145 Osrruary—Henry Walter Bates, 77 ; Francis Archer, 100; W. J. Vaug- han, 300; William Thompson, 328; Rev. Albert Henry Wratislaw, 328 Ocneria dispar in England, 259 Odonestis potatoria, male the colour of female, 296 Cicophora flavifrontella, 83; grandis, 327 Orgyia fascelina, ab., 251; antiqua, small dark form of, 294 Ornithoptera brookiana, 23 Orthoptera, British, 47 Osmia xanthomelana, 24 OxFroRDSHIRE—Colias edusa, 192, 282 Oxybelus mucronatus, 24 Oxyptilus distans and pilosella, 295 Pachnobia leucographa, 170 Paisley ‘“‘ pug,” the (Hupithecia casti- gata, var.), 41 Papilio, green and brown pupe of, 44, 93, 120; machaon, 150,—red markings on, 43; xuthus, 43; podalirius, 239, 322 Pararge hiera, 263; egeria, var. egerides, 264, 323 Parasite, curious, 247, 291 Parnassius, abdominal pouch in, 325; apollo in Switzerland, 243; delius, breeding, 234 Peronea variegata, var. cirrana, 73 ; schalleriana, var. latifasciana, 73; comariana, 327 Phedon cochleariz, mustard beetle, 2380 ; betulx, 230 Phigalia pilosaria, 145; pedaria (= pilo- saria), black, 71 Philonicus albiceps, 297 Phorodesma bajularia, 297 Phothedes captiuncula, 144 Phycis splendidella, 50 Phytophagous Coleoptera, synonymic notes on, 162 Pieris napi, bred, 175, 224, 324,—-var. bryoniw, 20,—var. 23; rape, early appearance of, 124, 145; callidice, H., 239; brassice, early appearance of, 145,—abundance of larve of, 287, —inigration of, at Harwich, 321 Pins, Entomological, 54, 119 Platypteryx unguicula, 315 Plusia festuce, 23, 45; pulchrina, 46, 66, 246; orichalcea, 51; gamma, 192,—and Vanessa cardui, recent abundance of, 159,—at Chester, 164 ; moneta, 294, 822,—at Tunbridge Wells, 193,—in Middlesex, 193,—in Kent, 220,—bred, 241,—bred in Eng- land, 253,—in Surrey, 290; iota, 246; bractea, 250 Plutella cruciferarum, moth, 232 Pecilocampa populi, 46, 47, 67 Polia nigrocincta, 297 ; chi, var. olivacea, 298,—var. obscura, 298 Polyommatus virgaurex, 15; dispar, var. rutilus, 95, 240, 323; hippothoe, var. eurybia, 240; dorilis, 241 ; phlceas, 249; alciphron, var. gordius, larva of, 288; alexis, 288; bcetica, 297, 327 Proprietorship, change of, 1 Pseudacrea miraculosa mimicking Da- nais chrysippus, 148 Pseudopsis sulcata, Newm., 143 diamond - back CONTENTS. X1 Psilura monacha, 18, 199,—var. eremita, Ochs., 216 Pteropeceila lamed, 50 Ptilodontis palpina, 66, 67, 68 Pulvinaria camellicola, 75 Pyrameis (Vanessa) cardui, 291,—ata- lanta, 291 Pyrellia lasiophthalmia, 50 Relaxing Exotic Lepidoptera, 95, 119 Reminiscence, a, 196 Retinia margarotana, 15; duplana, 23 Rhopalocera, in Central Germany, 15,— notes on Italian, 95, 239, 261,— British, xanthous forms of, 99 Roxana arcuana, 159 Sagra femorata, 324 Saturnia carpini, 174,—on variation in colour of cocoons of, 21,—two years in pupa, 121; pavonia, 145; pyvri, 174 Saturniide, notes on, 267; 292 Satyrus semele, female with under side suffused, 250; hyperanthus, vars. of, 325 Schrankia turfosalis, 82 Sciaphila sinuana, 82 Scotch Borderland, collecting on the, 144 ; prominent features of the present season, 162 Scorranp — Sphinx convolvuli taken at Rannoch, 19; Lepidoptera at Ran- noch, 105 Season, 1891, 65; 1892, 195,—Winder- mere, 245,—prominent features, 162 Seasonal forms of butterflies, 98 Selenia illustraria, 46 Sesia scolisformis, De OOF 295.1 327 sphegiformis, 22, 95; culciformis, 22 95; ichneumoniformis, 49; bembeci- formis, 95; formiciformis, 223,— variety of, 216 SuETLAND Istes—Lepidoptera of the, 72 Sirex gigas, in Shropshire, 223,—in Chi- chester, 245; juvencus, 250,—in Middlesex, O45, —at Norwich, 291,— in Notts, 291 Smerinthus populi, ova of, deposited in clusters, 217; tiliew, 249,—early pu- pation of, 288,—varieties of, 328 Smicra sispes, 326 SoMERSETSHIRE—Sugaring at Dulverton, 248; notes from Bath, 246; Colias edusa, 192, 208 South London Entomological and Natural History Society, annual exhibition of the, 125 Sphingide, a hint to breeders of, 118 Sphinx convolvuli, 18, 313,—in 1892, 289, —in Sussex, 319,—pinastri in Suf- folk, 244 Spilosoma lubricipeda, dark forms of, 22; fuliginosa, var. borealis. 251 species of, STAFFORDSHIRE (North)—Clearwings in, 95; notes on the season, 197; Tapi- nostola extrema in, 197,—a correc- tion, 241; Colias edusa and Vanessa c-album in, 280 Stauropus fagi, 44, 145, 170, 173, 199, 326, —in Wickham Wood, 193, — black variety, 327 Stenamma westwoodii, 50 Stephensia brunnichella, 83 Surrotk—Deiopeia pulchella at Felix- stowe, 191; Sphinx pinastriin, 244; convolvuli, 289 Sugar versus fruit as a bait for Lepi- doptera, 19; at Chester, 248; note on, 95; cane borers, 242 Sugaring, a failure in Hampshire, 19,— in October, 45,—in North Stafford- shire, 70 Surrey—Colias edusa in, 165, 209,—at Croydon, 166; Macroglossa _stella- tarum at Haslemere, 168; Deilephila livornica at Dorking, 168; Plusia moneta in, 280 Susspx—Lepidoptera of East, in early June, 156,—of Bognor, 69; Deiopeia pulchella at St. Leonards, 220,—at Brighton, 221,—in Hastings dis- trict, 288; Acherontia atropos at Chichester, 220 ; Colias edusa, 210; Sirex gigas at Chichester, 245; Cheerocampa celerio in, 318 ; Sphinx convolvuli in, 319; Heliothis armi- gera at Chichester, 319; notes on Lepidoptera at Chichester, 323; sal- low blossom in, 172 SwirzpRLaAND—Note on Parnassius apollo in, 243 Syrichthus alveus, 296; var. alveus, 296 Syrphide on hawthorn bloom, 176 Tabanus bovinus, 128 Teniocampa populeti, 170, 173; stabilis, 324 fritillum, Hbd., Tapinostola bondii, 322; extrema in Staffordshire, 197; not in Stafford- shire, 241 Telephorus rusticus, specimen of, 96 Temperature, effects of artificial, on colour of Lepidoptera, 21, 126, 250 Tephrosia consonaria, 158; extersaria, 158; luridata, 170,—(— extersaria), 173, 229 Thecla betule, 44, 67, 240, 247; spini, 240, —and ilicis, hybrid of, 193, 291; acacie#, 266; rubi, var. of, 294; w- album, 240 Thera simulata, 144 Thereva annulatus, 297 Tinea bistrigella, 83; albipunctella, 83 Tinagma betule, 83 Tortrix viridana, larva of, unusually 98, — monstrous ian X11 abundant, rufana, 317 Toxoneura muliebris, 50 Trichiura crategi, 46, 298 Trifurcula atrifrontella, 84 Triphena interjecta, 65, 66, 68, 310; or- bona, 124, 327; subsequa, 196, 251; 297 ; pronuba, white variety of, 324 Uropteryx sambucata, unusually plenti- ful, 278,—and Timandra amataria, abundance of, at Chertsey, 222 Vanessa antiopa, 15, 49, 220,—aberra- tions of, 43,—in Cambridgeshire, 243; urtice, feeding on wild hop, 18,—the effects of artificial tempe- rature on colour of, 21,—L., a beau- tiful bright yellow, 249,—var., 251 ; cardui, 192,—recent abundance of, 159,—at Chester, 221,—polychloros, 222, 308,—pupe on a stone wall, 193; c-album, 222, 252, 296, 297, 324, —seasonal forms, 296, — autumn form of, bred from spring larve, 318 ; egea, 239; atalanta, white spot in male, 295 Vanesse, evolution of colours in the, 27 Vanessidee, in Lancashire, 243,—in South Wales, 287 Variation produced by food, 251 Varieties :—Arctia caia (with figure), 1, 199, 224; villica, 294; Argynnis paphia (valesina), 18, 224, 242, 247, 325; pales (lapponica), 37 ; latona, 150; aglaia, 150; euphro- syne, 150, 249, 294, 296; selene, 159, 198; Euchloé cardamines, 22 ; Liparis monacha (eremita), 22; Lycena icarus, 23, 151, 249, 327; bellargus, 16, 249, 296; Pieris napi, 23, 224; Dianthecia carpophaga (capsophila), 25; Hrebia medusa, 37; melampus, 294; Hupithecia castigata, 41 ; Vanessa antiopa, 49 ; urtice, 249, 251; c-album, 296; atalanta, 298; Peronia variegana (cirrana), 73; P. schalleriana (lati- fasciana), 73; Gracilaria phasiani- pennella, (quadruplella), 83 ; Parthe- sia chrysorrhea, 98; Melanippe sociata (obscurata), 111; montanata, (shetlandica), 113; Apatura iris, 125; Limenitis sibylla, 125; Noctua festiva (conflua), 149; Sylpha atrata (var.), 149, —(subrotundata), 149; Papilio ,machaon, 150; Epinephele ianira, 150, 224, 249, 296; hyper- anthes, 216, 243, 248; Bryophila perla, 151; Deiopeia pulchella, 168 ; Notodonta trimacula (dodonea), 173; Zygena trifolii, 173, 325; fili- pendule (chrysanthemi), 194, 294; loniceree, 194; Melita athalia, 198 ; cinxia, 198; Sesia formiciformis, 216, 223; Euchelia jacobs, xan- 164; crategana, 229; CONTENTS. thic, 216; Silura monacha (ere- mita), 216; Apamea ophiogramma, 224; Amphidasys betularia, 224; Catocala nupta, 243, 249; Miana strigilis (aethiops), 248; Polyom- matus phloas, 249, 288; alexis, 288; Venusia cambricaria, 176; Colias edusa, 250, 296, 298; he- lice, 249, 251; paleno, 327; Sme- rinthus tiliw, 249, 328; Satyrus semele, 250; hyperanthus, 324, 325 ; Cidaria truncata, 250; Spilosoma lubricipeda (radiata), 250; Gidipoda fasciata, 250; Bupalus piniaria, 251 ; Asthena blomeri, 251; Epione ves- pertaria, 251; Acronycta alni, 251; Lobophora lobulata, 252; hexapte- rata, 252; Thecla rubi, 294; Cocci- nella ocellata, 2943; oblongo-guttata, 294; Dasydia tenebraria, 294; Abraxas grossulariata, 294, 297, 327; Orgyia antiqua, 294, 295 ; fas- celina, 251; Herbula cespitalis, 295; Ennomos angularia, 294; Acidalia bisetata, 296; Odonestris potatoria, 296, 326; Epione apici- aria, 297; Epunda lutulenta, 298; Melanthia rubiginata, 298; Tri- phena pronuba, 323; orbona, 327 ; subsequa, 251; Camptogramma bi- lineata, 326; Hadena oleracea, 326; Stauropus fagi, 428; Taniocampa stabilis, 324; Hypsipites ruberata, 296 Wates (Sourx) — Notes, 197; Deiopeia pulchella, 244; Vanessidx, 287 ; WeEsrMoRELAND—Captures in 1891, 144 ; notes on season at Windermere, 245 WILTSHIRE—Colias edusa in, 192 WoRCESTERSHIRE—Colias edusa in, 164 Xylina petrificata, 46, 47; socia, 19, 45, 172; ornithopus, 45, 172 Xylophasia sublustris, 322 Xysmatodoma argentimaculella, 83 YorksHIRE—Harly Lepidoptera in, 164; sallows in (season, 1892), 170 Ypthima, revision of the genus, 324 Zygena minos, 21; trifolii, 173, 325; filipendulx, var. chrysanthemi, 194, 294 ; lonicere, aberration of, 194,— var. semilutescens, 251 SuppLemMENT. — Coleoptera from Cen- tral China and the Korea, by Rey. H. 8. Gorham, 81. Descriptions of some New Species of Phytophagous Coleoptera and Synonymic Notes, by Martin Jacoby, 86. Descriptions of some New Species of African Lepidoptera, by W. L. Distant, 89. Prats I.—Henry Walter Bates, F.R.S. (to face p. 77). Variety of Arctia caia (p. 1). Diplosis coccidarum, n. sp. (p. 181). THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Vor. XXV.] JANUABY, 1892. [No. 344. CHANGE OF PROPRIETORSHIP. I HAVE very great pleasure in announcing that I have acquired proprietorship of the ‘ Entomologist.’ Under the liberal management of the late proprietor, Mr. J. H. Leech, this Journal has made a considerable advance, not only as regards the improved quantity and quality of the literary matter, but in its circulation, which at the present time is a very extensive one. I need hardly say that I shall endeavour to maintain this improvement, and I venture to ask readers and contributors to kindly support me in keeping up the present popularity of the ‘ Kntomologist.’ Ricuarp Souru. VARIETY OF ARCTIA CATA. VARIETY OF ARCTIA CATIA. Tue above rather striking variety of Arctia cata, a female, came out in my breeding-cage on the 20th July last. The fore wings are entirely brown, with the exception of a white comma- shaped mark half-way between the costal margin and the anal angle, that on the left wing being rather smaller, with the tail portion of the comma separated from the upper portion. On the right wing there is an additional very minute white spot between ENTOM.—JAN. 1892. B 2 THE ENTOMOLOGIST, the comma-shaped mark and the hind margin ; this spot is absent from the left wing. There is also a small oval white spot at the base of both wings adjoining the thorax. A network of rather a darker shade of brown, only visible in a strong light, stretches over both wings. The hind wings do not present any striking variation from the type, but the right wing is a little crumpled. The left side of the thorax is creamy, the remaining and larger portion brown. Itis rather a small specimen, being only 24 inches in expanse. The larva was collected in a small state, with about sixty others, from various localities, and fed on dead nettle and virginian creeper. R. Lappimay. 25, Hellesdon Road, Norwich, Nov. 5, 1891. [A similar variety of Arctia (Chelonia) villica is figured, Kntom. xi. p. 78 (1878).—Ep. ] MR. BUTLER’S NOTES ON SYNONYMY OF NORTH AMERICAN NOCTUIDA. By Joun B. Smrra, 8c. D. In the ‘ Entomologist’ for October, 1891 (vol. xxiv. p. 238), Mr. Butler has some remarks on the synonymy of certain species of Agrotis, and incidentally on my criticism of his previous paper. Since I wrote, and since Mr. Butler wrote, I have had the pleasure of making Mr. Butler’s personal acquaintance, and also of spend- ing two weeks in studying the magnificent collections in the South Kensington Museum. I have, therefore, seen the very specimens spoken of by Mr. Butler, and have had the advantage of a previous thorough acquaintance with long series of the various forms con- sidered identical by him. A regrettable attack of illness confined Mr. Butler to his home during most part of the time spent in the museum, and prevented my demonstrating to him the distinctness of the species he united. Mr. Butler unites in one series:—Mythimna subporphyrea, Wlk., = Agrotis phyllophora, Zet., = A. alternata, Zet., = varix, Zet., = variata, Zet. As a matter of fact, all these are good and valid, save that variz and variata are forms of one species. My identification of all these forms, save suwbporphyrea, which I had not known, was accurate; and I am willing to stand by every word contained in my monograph of Agrotis. Mr. Butler also referred Agrotis turris, Zet., to Peridroma saucia, Hbn.; and my criticism of this reference is also just. Mr. Butler did not know the range of variation in turris, therefore he associated one specimen with saucia, while other specimens of the same species stand under two other names, their identity not SYNONYMY OF NORTH AMERICAN NOCTUIDAE. 3 recognized, Mr. Butler uses very largely, as a basis of Classifi- cation, antennal structures, and usually ignores frontal modifica- tions, armature of tibiz, and clothing of eyes. I have no present quarrel with his system, though I believe it is radically and com- pletely wrong; butif he had examined the front of turris, he would have found it structurally different from that of saucia, and would not have made the reference. Had he seen a male, he would have recognized its distinctness by the difference in antennal structure. Mr. Butler’s notes are unquestionably of value, and in the majority of instances his synonymy is correct ; but where a student of a local fauna finds references which he knows cannot be accurate, it makes it simply impossible for him to accept any of the references implicitly or unquestioned. I must re-affirm my position that synonymical references should only be made after critical study and comparison, and less damage and confusion result from having the same species under two names than from having two species erroneously combined. In the latter case, one who relies on the correctness of the synonymy is apt to re- describe old species, and thus to confuse matters still more. I hold, also, that critical remarks should be based either on a thorough knowledge of the fauna to which the insect belongs, or on a monographice study. Mr. Butler is correct, of course, when he calls attention to the fact that he has the Noctuide of the world under his charge ; but that is not a reason, surely, why he should be privileged to make synonymical references without sufficient. study. The British Museum Catalogues, by Walker, have been stumbling-blocks in the way of American Entomology since their publication, and many species of Lepidoptera described therein are unknown to us to-day. Some of the groups have been satisfactorily and well straightened out by subsequent British workers, and it is surely not too much to ask that the Museum workers of the present day should not still further con- fuse matters by hasty notes based on insufficient study. The result would be simply that the latter notes would be considered as unreliable as the first, and the synonymy would be just as unsatisfactory as before. Nor would the reputation of the British Museum and of its workers be enhanced by such papers. My notes on the American species in the British Museum collections will be ready for publication, I hope, before the end of the year. I have nothing but words of gratitude for the reception accorded me there. Every facility was afforded me; all kindness was shown. For Mr. Butler personally, and for his works in general, I have the highest regard, and naturally therefore no personal motive for my criticism of his notes. New Brunswick, New Jersey. Rutgers College. 4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. THE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF LONDON, By Ricuarp Sours. AuTHouGH it is the oldest association of entomologists extant, the Entomological Club of London does not appear to be as widely known as it certainly deserves to be. Before, however, we consider the origin, progress, and present state of this Club, we will briefly review the history of kindred institutions in this country. Not only does England hold the honourable position of being the first country in Europe to establish a purely Entomological Society, but, as a matter of fact, no less than five of such societies were founded in London between 1745 and 1831, all of which preceded any continental society devoted to Entomology. I understand that attempts were made on one or two occasions during the latter half of the eighteenth century to start an entomological association, but with what measure of success I am unable to say. I have endeavoured to ascertain something definite about these reputed societies, but I can find no cireum- stantial account of them, and must therefore pass on to those about which something is known. The ‘‘Societas Aureliana”’ started into life in 1745; but very little is known to us of this society beyond the fact that it did exist, and that a disastrous fire destroyed its library and col- lections, and also put an end to its career in the year 1748. In 1806 the ‘‘Societas Entomologica” was founded in London, and seems to have been the earliest entomological society that published its ‘Transactions,’ the first volume of which was edited by Haworth, and was completed between the years 1807 and 1812. This society was broken up in 1818, and London had to wait until 1826 for the re-establishment of a centre around which her entomologists might gather. In the year last mentioned the ‘‘Kntomological Club” was formed for the purpose of holding social meetings at the residence of each of its members in turn. Although the membership was limited to eight, the Club seems to have enjoyed an exceedingly good time, for we find that in 1836 the property of the association, in the shape of insects, cabinets, books, &¢., was of such con- siderable value that 1t was deemed advisable to frame a Consti- tution, and adopt a Code of Laws. It is perhaps worthy of remark that for ten years this little band of entomologists had conducted the affairs of the Club solely by certain understood, but for the most part unwritten, regulations mutually agreed on between themselves. The ‘‘ Entomological Society of London”’ was inaugurated at the ‘Thatched House,’ St. James’s Street, on the 22nd of May, 1834, when the following officers were appointed :— Honorary THE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF LONDON. 5 President, R. W. Kirby; President, J. G. Children; Vice-Presi- dents, N. A. Vigors, J. F. Stephens, Dr. Horsfield ; Treasurer, Rev. F. W. Hope; Secretary, G. R. Gray ; Curator of Coll. and Libr., G. R. Waterhouse. ‘The first sitting for the transaction of ordinary business was held at the Society’s Rooms, 17, Old Bond Street, November, 1835. ‘The prosperity of this long-established Society seems assured, as it is well and favourably known both at home and abroad. Its rooms are now at Chandos Street, Cavendish Square. Hn passant, it may be mentioned that the French Entomological Society was established in 1832, ‘‘ Ento- mologischen Vereins zu Stettin ” in 1840, and “‘ Societe Entomo- logique Belge” in 1857. ‘here are now local Natural History Societies scattered throughout the length and breadth of the British Islands, and, as Entomology holds a leading position in most of these, the collectors residing in most of our large towns have facilities for the interchange of ideas and experiences. In London this is especially the case, and one of the metropolitan locals, viz., the South London Entomological and Natural History Society, established in 1872, has earned for itself a large measure of popularity ; and its annual exhibitions have, without doubt, done much towards developing a taste for Entomology in many who had perhaps simply been attracted by curiosity to look at whatever this Society had to show them. Returning to the history of the Entomological Club, we find that at a meeting held at Mr. Bennett’s, 48, Cannon Street, on Tuesday evening, June 9th, 1836, a committee, previously appointed for the purpose, brought in a Preamble and Code of Laws, which, after sundry alterations had been suggested, adopted, and incorporated, were unanimously agreed to. Imme- diately after the re-construction of the Club, donations began to pour in at a great rate; several entomologists gave their entire collections, both British and exotic. Among many other presents to the Club in 1836 were the following :—Mr. Davis, the whole of his exotic insects and numerous rare British ones ; Mr. William Christy, Jun., of London, the whole of his collection of British and exotic insects, with the exception of the British Lepidoptera,* and several books; Mr. J. F. Christy, a handsome mahogany cabinet of 40 drawers, together with his whole collection of insects; Mr. Bennett, a splendid collection of Brazilian insects of all orders, comprising nearly 1000 specimens, purchased by him expressly for the Club; Mr. Henry Doubleday, 250 specimens of British Lepidoptera collected in his district expressly for the Club. So far as we can trace them, donations to the Club seem to have been on a liberal scale up to the end of 1837; after that date there is a hiatus, owing to the loss of a minute-book. In ** These also were given to the Club on a subsequent occasion, 6 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 1852, however, we find Mr. Doubleday, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Wallcott, among others, doing much to enrich the collections. On Dec. 22nd, 1855, it was announced that a large number of British insects had been presented to the Club since May, and at the April meeting, 1856, Mr. KE. Newman, as Curator, reported the collection in a good state of preservation, and that numerous additions had been made thereto both by captures and donations. The Curator’s report, at the end of the year 1856, shows that there were large donations of insects, and that all duplicates sent in for distribution were offered unconditionally to be selected from by every visitor to the collection. One gentleman, Mr. Hdleston, had sent over 500 specimens for distribution in this way. At almost every meeting from 1856 to 1859 donations were announced. Very few presents appear on the minutes after 1868, but in 1876 we find that Mr. W. Machin gave the Club a box of Lepidoptera. Although the Club has long borne a name, it does not appear ever to have had a local habitation. Its collection of insects and its library are deposited in the house of one or other of its members who happens to hold the office of Curator. At a meeting of the Club, held on the 16th October, 1852, at Mr. Bowerbank’s, a letter from Mr. Walker, the then Curator, was read, in which he tendered his resignation of the curatorship, as he was about to remove from London, and requesting that the collection of the Club be removed from his residence in Bedford Square. This announcement gave rise to considerable discussion, and there seems to have been some little difficulty in fixing on a new location for the cabinets, &e. However, the matter was referred to Mr. Bowerbank and Mr. Newman to consider and report on at a future meeting, and on the 18th of December, 1852, it was decided that the entomological property of the Club be entrusted to Mr. Newman, who had, to oblige Mr. Walker, already removed the cabinets to his own residence. It was further resolved that the said collection should be open to entomologists generally one evening in each week, as had formerly been the custom when under the charge of Mr. Stephens and Mr. Curtis respectively. At this meeting Messrs. 8. Stevens, T. Ingall, and E. Newman were appointed a committee to examine and report on the collections of the Club, and on the 15th of January, 1853, the following report was presented at a meeting held at Mr. Marshall’s residence in the Bank of England :— “Your Committee have carefully examined the collection of British insects belonging to the Entomological Club, and find it to be contained in three mahogany cabinets, one of which has 19 drawers, and a vacancy for a 20th, and the others 40 drawers each, making a total of 99 drawers. The glass of one drawer is broken, and we recommend its being mended forthwith. The insects generally are free from dust, mould, or mites. THE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF LONDON. i ‘There appears to be no general system of arrangement, and the whole of the parasitic Hymenoptera, a large portion of the Diptera, viz., the Muscide, the whole of the Hemiptera, and a drawer containing a rich and almost perfect series of a large portion of the Curculionide, which had been examined and named by Mr. Walton. are altogether missing; on referring to the minutes of the Club it appears that the drawer in question was missing when Mr. Walker received the cabinets, and that the Hemiptera have been lent to Mr. Dallas for description in his forthcoming volume of the ‘ Insecta Britannica.’ “We are unitedly of opinion that the collection inits present confused state of arrangement and impoverished condition can- not be usefully thrown open as a collection for reference, but we trust that by degrees portions of the missing property will be returned by those to whom it has been lent, and that entomolo- gists generally, seeing the utility of public collections, will assist with contributions in endeavouring to restore this to its pristine state; and we are clearly and very decidedly of the opinion that in future no insect whatever should be removed from the cabinets without the exp“ess sanction of the Club, or of a committee acting on its behalf, and we consider it indispersable that the borrower should in every instance sign an acknowledgment of the loan.” it wil! be noticed that no mention is made in this report of exotic insects so liberally presented to the Club in its earlier days; perhaps the lost minute-book would inform us about these. After the death of Mr. Newman, which event occurred in June, 1876, three membezs of the Club, viz., Messrs. Power, Lowne, and Grut, met at the residence of Dr. Power to appoint a new Curator, and, at a meeting held at Dr. Power’s on the 25th July, 1876, it was agreed that the kind offer of Mr. Lowne to take charge of the collection be accepted; and the chairman, at a subsequent meeting, announced that the collection had been removed to Mr. Lowne’s residence, 49, Colville Gardens, Bays- water,* and arrangements had been made that he would act as Curator. Mr. Lowne stated at this meeting that he proposed to have the collection in readiness, and to receive visitors who might wish to see it, on the first Monday in each month. The cost of removing the cabinets and other incidental expenses amounted on this occasion to a sum of £4 15s., and to defray this a whip was agreed to, which resulted in the collection of £10. The foregoing is a good illustration of. the way in which the expenses of the Club are met. As members do not pay entrance fee or subscription, the Club has no funds resulting from this ths In 1878 Mr. Lowne removed to 65, Cambridge Gardens, Notting Hill, W., his present residence, and was authorised to take the collection with him. 8 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. very usual source of income; so when the Treasurer finds him- self in need of the wherewith to satisfy any claim against the Club, he simply brings the matter forward at a meeting, and a whip, say, of 2s. 6d., or something about that sum, according to the amount required, is suggested and cheerfully agreed to. Turning to the membership of the Club, we find that at the present moment it has fallen to about half its proper strength. According to the original Laws of the Club the number of mem- bers was fixed at eight, but in J anuary, 1865, the number was raised to nine. On the 17th of November, 1869, Law 3 was altered, and now reads as follows :—‘‘ That any vacancy occurring in the Club be filled up by election from the Honorary Corre- sponding Members resident in or near London.” ‘This alteration seems to have been necessary, because there was a difficulty in _ keeping the roll full when it was a sine qua non that ordinary members should have a residencein London. Strange as it may seem that nine entomologists resident within the metropolitan area could not be found to keep together this venerable institu- tion, the fact remains that if Law 8 had been adhered to the Club would this day have had only three ordinary members, to wit, Mr. 8. Stevens, Mr. Lowne, and Dr. Thudichum. The con- cession to Honorary Members resident in or near London has been wisely extended to Honorary Members who live at some distance from town, but who can make it convenient to visit London occasionally, and this has resulted in the election of Mr. Verrall and Dr. Mason as ordinary members. The particular feature of this association of entomologists which distinguishes it from other entomological societies is the social character of its meetings. The members meet at the residence of one of their number, and the member in whose house the meeting takes place is chairman of the evening, and he is also host. In the latter capacity it is incumbent on him to provide a supper for the party, and this, according to the taste of the entertainer, may be one of the champagne kind, or a frugal - meal of bread and cheese and glass of homely beer. In addition to the ordinary members, the chairman of the evening enjoys the privilege of inviting any number of honorary members. Possibly it is not always in convenient accord with a mem- ber’s domestic arrangements to entertain a party of entomolo- gists at particular periods, or even at any time, and maybe this in a measure explains why it is that the full membership of the Club is not always maintained. Probably some alteration in the Law which bears upon ‘this matter might be an advantage to the Club. Many entomologists, especially those of the London con- tingent, are now familiar with a certain phase of the business of the Entomological Club. Mr. Verrall’s supper at the Holborn Restaurant has come to be regarded as an annual event; the THE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF LONDON. g réunion is an exceedingly pleasant one, and is quite unique in the way of an entomological gathering on social lines. For several years past the formal discussion of entomological questions has ceased to find a place in the business of the Club meetings, but conversation is unrestricted, and naturally turns upon entomological matters. It would probably be injudicious for the members to endeavour to re-establish a custom which obtained under a former régime; I refer to the bringing forward at one meeting certain knotty questions to be discussed at the next meeting, as, for example, the set of three proposed by Messrs. Spence and Newman in January, 1852:—1. ‘‘ What are the economy and natural affinities of the genus Boreus?” 2. ‘Can the species of the genus Pieris be distinguished from each other by the scales?” 3. ‘‘Is it desirable to adopt a mononymic nomenclature in Natural History as proposed by Mons. Amyot?” This kind of thing may well be left to societies of the profound class to deal with. As has already been mentioned, the Entomological Club has a large collection of British insects, among which are probably many types, as certain families of different Orders have been borrowed by specialists at various times for descriptive work (Mr. McLachlan, for instance, had a loan of the Perlide in 1869). We have seen that in the past this collection was open to ento- mologists for the purpose of assisting them in naming their captures, &c., and this is, I believe, still the case, but the fact is not generally known. A private house, however, does not appear to be the best possible location for a reference collection of this kind. Apart from the question of responsibility, its custody entails upon the gentleman in charge certain obligations in the way of receiving visitors, &c., which it may not always be convenient to discharge. Again, many who would be glad to examine such a collection are deterred from making use of it because they fear to tax the courtesy of the Curator. Now that the Club is again exhibiting signs of activity, and there is evidence of intention to bring up the membership to its normal strength, it would seem to be a convenient time to give this matter of housing the collection serious consideration. Perhaps it might be found practicable to deposit the cabinets, as a loan, with one of the London Entomological Societies having rooms of their own. If this course were adopted the collection would be open to every one desiring to see it at stated periods, which, of course, would be the dates and hour of meeting of the particular Society entrusted with the cabinets. Before concluding this brief account of the Entomological Club, I should mention that the ‘ Entomological Magazine,’ the first periodical devoted to Entomology published in Britain, was -an outcome of the Club. The first number of this interesting journal appeared in September, 1832, and the last, completing the fifth volume, in October, 1888, 10 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. NOTES ON THE SYNONYMY OF NOCTUID MOTHS. By Arruur G. Buruer, F.L.S., F.Z.8., &ce. (Continued from vol. xxiv. p. 296.) ORTHOSIIDA. Levucocosmia, Butl. Leucocosmia ceres. Leucocosmia ceres, Butler, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1886, p. 394, mero, Olax. fee: Caradrina euthusa, Hampson, Ill. Typ. Lep. Het. viil. p. 79, filemexye tice Fidji and Nilgiris. Coll. B. M. Mr. Hampson quite agrees with me that the moths from these widely sundered localities are specimens of one and the same species. OrtHostA, Ochs. Orthosia reciproca. Apamea reciproca, Walker, Lep. Het. Suppl. 2, p. 672 (1865). Orthosia breviuscula, Walker, l. c., 8, p. 716: (1865). Moreton Bay. Coll. B. M. DasYGASTER, Guen. Dasygaster hollandie. Dasygaster hollandie, Guenée, Noct. i. p. 201, n. 8319 (1852). Var. D. leucanioides, Guenée, l. c., 1, p. 202, n. 820 (1852). Graphiphora? facilis, Walker, Lep. Het. xl. p. 745 (1857). Australia, Tasmania. Coll. B. M. Dasygaster epundordes. Dasygaster epundoides, Guenée, Noct. 1. p. 202, n. 821 (1852). D. punctivena, Walker, Lep. Het. ix. p. 242, n. 4 (1856). Tasmania. Coll. B. M. Graphiphora? quadrata of Walker appears also to be a Dasygaster, but it is in such wretched condition that its natural position cannot be settled with certainty. Dyscnorista, Led. Dyschorista prodeuns. Cerastis? prodeuns, Walker, Lep. Het. x. p. 452, n. 11 (1856). Teniocampa puerilis, Grote (see Check List, p. 31, n. 670). United States. Coll. B. M. Grote’s specimens are labelled, Mamestra and Graphiphora puerilis, but the species agrees more nearly with Dyschorista than with any of the genera to which it has hitherto been referred, and I therefore ‘provisionally place it therein. NOTES ON THE SYNONYMY OF NOCTUID MOTHS. 11 The genus Pteretholix is identical with Berresa, Walk. (Cat. Lep. Het. xvi. p. 214, 1858), and is allied to Ilattia. PERIGHA, Guen. Perigea conducta. Caradrina consocia, Walker, Lep. Het. x. p. 299, n. 40 (1856). Hab. —? Coll. B. M. This is another synonym of this much described species. The following genera belong to the later group, in which the radial vein of the secondaries is emitted near to or from the same point as the third medial branch. Grote says (Check List, p. 37), in explanation of his use of the term Hustrotia in place of Erastria, ‘I cannot use Hrastria for this genus, because Hubner uses that term before Treitschke for a genus of Geometride. If used only in the ‘ Tentamen,’ the publication of which by Hubner is improbable, I should ignore it. In the ‘ Verzeichniss’ the term is only used in the plural (p. 299) to indicate a Stirps; moreover, I believe that Treitschke has priority over this use of the name.” ERASTRITDAL. Nipista, Walk. Nipista tigris. Diastema tigris, Guenée, Noct. i. p. 1127. Nipista lineata, Walker, Cat. Lep. Het. xu. p. 800, n. 1 (1857). Venezuela and Sta. Martha. Coll. B. M. This has little in common with Diastema virgo ; it is, in fact, much nearer to the Leptosia concinnimacula of Guenée, which I would suggest should be, for the present at any rate, associated with it, as it has not the palpi of the Kuropean insects placed with it by its describer, nor can I see my way clear to admitting it into Hrastria. COSMOPHILIDA. Gonitis, Guen. Gonitis editrix. Gonitis editrix, Guenée, Noct. ii. p. 404, pl. 11, fig. 5. G. fractifera, Walker, Lep. Het. xii. p. 998, n. 2 (1857). G. cosmioides, Walker, l.c., p. 1000, n. 5 (1857). South America, West Indies. Coll. B. M. Gonitis sabulifera. Gonitis sabulifera, Guenée, Noct. uu. p. 404, n. 1272. Var. G. involuta, Walker, Lep. Het. xii. p. 1008, n. 12 (1857). G. basalis, Walker, l.c., p. 1004, n. 13 (1857). Tiridata colligata, Walker, l.c., Suppl. 3, p. 870 (1865). Gonitis propinqua, Butler, Proce, Zool. Soc. 1884, p. 497. 12 THE ENTOMOLOGIS'. Southern Asia and Africa. Coll. B. M. Mr. Hampson obtained typical G. sabulifera in the Nilghiris ; and Mr. Hocking caught one damaged specimen at Dharmsala. Gonitis fulvida. 3 2? Anomis fulvida, Guenée, Noct. 2, p. 97, n. 1259 (1852). 2 Gonitis combinans, Walker, Lep. Het. xii. p. 1001, n. 7 (1857). 3 G. inducens, Walker, l. c., p. 1004, n. 14 (1857). ? G. privata, Walker, l.c., Suppl. 3, p. 863 (1865). G. commoda, Butler, Ill. Typ. Lep. Het. ii. p. 36, pl. xxxil. f. 3 (1878). Var. 3 G. metaxantha, Walker, l.c., xiii. p. 1005, n. 15 (1857). Var. 2 G. albitibia, Walker, l.c., p. 1001, n. 8 (1857). $ Rusicada nigritarsus, Walker, l.c., p. 1006, n. 1 (1857). $ Deremma simulatrix, Walker, l.c., Suppl. 3, p. 864 (1865). Java, Ceylon, India, China, Japan, Solomon Islands, Sierra Leone. Type, Coll. B. M. Guenée made a mistake as to the locality of his type, which was in the Horsfield collection (EK. I. Co.), from Java. I have placed the variety G. metaxantha in front of G. albitibia, as it is an intermediate form linking the rufous to the fuliginous type. G. revocans is an Australian representative of G. fulvida, of a larger and heavier build; and G. xanthochroa is a Fijian repre- sentative, larger, and with comparatively longer primaries, but not otherwise differing. Scapisa, Walk. Scedisa exaggerata. Anomis exaggerata, Gueneée, Noct. il. p. 398, n. 1261 (1852). Scadisa designans, Walker, Lep. Het. xii. p. 1007, n. 1 (1857). Theresopolis. Coll. B. M. The type of the species was from New Freiburg. Anomis, Hibn. This genus would have had to be restricted to its type, A. exacta, if A. luridula were certainly an Aletia. It is, perhaps, only a form of A. derogata, a type standing between A. xylina and A. argillacea ; we have two examples of it from the States. A. erosa is a Cosmophila, and only differs from C. xanthimdyma in its ciliated, instead of serrated, antenne; pattern, colouring, sexual differences of colour included, are all absolutely the same. The type of Aletia is a Leucanid. Anomis luridula. Anomis luridula, Guenée, Noct. ii. p. 401, n. 1268 (1852). United States, Coll. B. M, NOTES ON THE SYNONYMY OF NOCTUID MOTHS. 13 I have no doubt that this is a slight variety of Walker’s A. derogata, described from St. Domingo and Venezuela, but also common in the States; one of our examples of A. luridwa answers well to Guenée’s description of his A. impasta, which, however, was described from Cayenne. The question, therefore, arises whether A. derogata and A. luridula should not both be regarded as varieties of A. impasta; yet the latter may prove distinct when a Cayenne specimen is compared with A. derogata. It seems nonsense to call the typical form a variety of A. luridula, therefore the better way would be simply to quote Walker’s A. derogata as a synonym. Anomis xylina, Say. Anomis grandipuncta, Guenée, Noct. ii. p. 400, n. 1266 (1852). Aletia argillacea, Grote (see Check List, p. 33, n. 812) (1882). North and South America. Coll. B. M. I cannot admit this identification of A. argillacea. Hiibner’s figure neither corresponds in outline nor in markings with A. grandipuncta, which is the species labelled as A. argillacea by Grote. Nevertheless, Hubner’s figure is not good. Anomis argillacea.. Aletia argillacea, Hubner, Samml, Exot. Schmett. Zeitr. figs. 399, 400. Anomis illita, Guenée, Noct. ii. p. 400, n. 1265 (1852). A. conducta, Walker, Lep. Het. xiii. p. 990, n. 6 (1857). Para, Venezuela, and St. Domingo. Coll. B. M. Prof. Riley gave us a series of Anomides some years ago, amongst which was an example from the United States, of what I take to be only a slightly more dusky form of this species, = A. hostia, Harvey. ACONTIIDA. Acontta, Ochs. Acontia malve. Noctua malve, Esper, Schmett. iv. pl. exev. fig. 4. ? Xanthodes stramen, Guenée, Noct. i. p. 210, n. 976 (1852). 3 Xanthia imparata, Walker, Lep. Het. x. p. 467, n. 19 (1856). & Xanthodes inefficiens, Walker, Lep. Het. xv. p. 1752 (1858). @ X. impellens, Walker, l. c. Europe and Asia. Coll. B. M. Noctua flava of Fabricius can hardly belong to this genus. The description, ‘‘ Parva in hoe genere, tota flavescens alis anticis strigis plurimis, undatis ferrugineis,” will not at all do for the Xanthodes transversa of Guenée, which is not small, and only has three angular lines across the primaries. 14 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Acontia transversa. Xanthodes transversa, Guenée, Noct. ii. p. 211, n. 978 (1852). X. intersepta, Walker (not Guenée), Lep. Het. xii. p. 778, maw (U857). X. migrator, Walker, l.c., p. 779, n. 6 (1857). Asia and Australasia. Type in Coll. B. M. Walker carelessly transposed the two species, A. transversa and A. intersepta in his Catalogue. Had he examined the type specimens he might easily have discovered this blunder. Acontia graellsit. Acontia graelisiti, Feisthamel, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, vi. p- 800, pl. 12, fig. 3 (1837). 3 Xanthodes innocens, Walker, Lep. Het. xv. p. 1752 (1858). 3 @ X. fimbriata, Walker, l.c., Suppl. 8, p. 777 (1865). Europe, Asia, and Africa. Coll. B. M. Acontia amata. Xanthodes amata, Walker, Lep. Het. Suppl. 3, p. 778 (1865). X. adunca, Felder, Reise der Nov. Lep. iv. pl. cviil. fig. 39. Australia. Coll. B. M. TaracHe, Hiibn. Mr. Moore has pointed out that 7’. solaris = lucida, Hufn., is the type of this genus. Tarache lucida. Noctua lucida, Hufnagel, Berl. Mon. ii. p. 302, n. 424 (1767). N. solaris, Schiffermuller, Wein. Verz. p. 90; Esper, Eur. Schmett. iv. pl. 88, fig. 2 (1786). @ Acontia triradiata, Walker, Lep. Het. xii. p. 791, n. 383 (1857). Var. Noctua albicollis, Fabricius, Sp. Ins. il. p. 218, n. 48. Furope and Asia. Coll. B. M. The females of the variety 7’. albicollis resemble the males of the typical form. Most of the species of this genus differ con- siderably in the sexes, so that many synonyms have necessarily been made. Tarache caffraria. 3d Phalena caffraria, Cramer, Pap. Exot. 1. p. 82, pl. cxlvi. ELT) Noctua caloris, Hubner, Samml. Eur. Schmett. 11. fig. 372. @ Acontia komaga, Felder, Reise der Nov. Lep. iv. pl. eviii. fie. 33. South Africa. Coll. B. M. (To be continued). i) ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES, CAPTURES, &c., RwopaLocera IN Centra, Germany.—During the past summer I have been on a visit to my native town, Biedenkopf, in Middle Germany. Although I did not reach there till the latter part of August, I found butterflies still abundant, in spite of the wet and cold weather in the early part of the season. The small town of Biedenkopf (about 4000 inhabitants), ‘which is situated in 51° N, lat., and 6° E. long., lies by the river Lahn in a nest of mountains, spurs of the Westerwald, and can be reached from London in twenty-four hours. The new railway, opened a few years ago, connects the valleys of the rivers Sieg and Lahn, and passes first through the mining district by the town of Siegen, thence by a most romantic journey over the mountains down into the valley of the Lahn, where Biedenkopf is situated. Within three or four miles north-west lies the little town of Hatzfeld, on the river Eder, which, flowing northwards, forms a tributary to the Weser, and is noted for good trout and salmon fishing. At this spot stands a pretty villa belonging, I believe, to Colonel Teesdale, where the Prince of Wales is sometimes a guest. The mountains around Biedenkopf are about 500 metres above the sea-level, and the heights are wooded partly with pines and firs, but mostly with beeches and oaks. The formation consists of clay-slate, gray-wacke, and greenstoue, although among the mountains are chalk districts intermixed with quartz. On the banks of the Lahn, alders, willows, and poplars. grow in profusion. I will now enumerate a few species of Rhopalocera which I captured within ten minutes’ walk of the town, mostly ou the flowery and heather-grown slopes of the mountains:—Papilio machaon (common everywhere in the streets, fields, and mountains), Colias hyale (common), C. edusa, Gonopteryx rhamni (very common), Argynnis latonia, A. dia, Vanessa album, V. poly- chloros, V. urtice, V. antiopa (common in orchards near town), V. io, Arge galatea, Erebia liyea, E. @thiops (very common), KH. medusa, Satyrus semele, S. proserpina, E’pinephele ianira, Pararge megera, Thecla betula, T. rubi, Polyommatus virgauree (common), Syrichthus malva, Hesperia comma. Nearly all the Rhopalocera on the British list, besides many others, occur; but I draw especial attention to the following :— Papilio podalirius, Limenitis populi, Apatura iris (common in mountain paths), A, ilea var. elytie, Satyrus circe { proserpina] (taken in fair numbers every season), S. hermione, 8. briseis, Colias palemon, Lycena arion (on sunny slopes), resorts to bramble blossom, flies quickly, similar to hyale, and is soon lost to view. The Heterocera met with will be more fully referred to on a future occasion. For the present I will only say that Catocala fraxini occurs frequently on the Italian poplars planted in avenues along the main roads. Incidentally I may mention that in a wood close to the town I discovered the plant Impatiens moli-mi-tangere, and drew my nephew’s attention to it. He has since collected a number of larvee from it, which, from the description, L believe to be Cidaria reticulata.— J. Jicer; 180, Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, W., Nov. 1891. Rare Micro-Leprpoprera.—Among my duplicates I found a very fine specimen of Catoptria nimbana. Also a third specimen of Lryotropha obscurella ; this species is very easy to distinguish from any other. My second specimen of Retinia margarotana was discovered among the legions of duplicates I possess.—J. 13. HODGKINSON ; Ashton-on-Ribble, Noy. 1891. 16 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Srcoxp Broop or Mimmsroprinus BIFUNCTIDACTYLUS.—I have been breeding evidently the second brood of Mimaseoptilus bipunctidactylus. The larvae were feeding exposed on the flowers of the garden scabious, and the moths emerged at the end of October. The first brood I have bred from the young shoots of Scabiosa succisa, feeding internally, and as the plant grows they move from one shoot to another, and can easilv be traced. The markings of the respective larve of the two broods are identical, but the second brood of moths are a trifle darker.—W. PurpEy; Sea View Terrace, 129, Dover Street, Folkestone, Nov. 12, 1891. Hapena satura, &c.—Some time ago I saw it stated very mysteriously that the above rarity had been taken far North. Probably the specimens recently sent me may be the examples referred to, or others from the same source. The party from whom I received them had purchased these insects, with other species, as British. They are all on black pins, and set in our fashion. Satura’s box-mates comprised the following :— 1 purpurea, 1 sacraria, 2 conformis, 2 zinckenii, 1 conspicillaris, 1 alchy- mista, 1 armigera. JI returned them at once, although the price was left to me. They all looked as if bred and new. It certainly was a treat to see satura. The conformis were of the leaden hue, not as dark as Welsh specimens.—J. B. Hovextyson ; Ashton-on Ribble, Nov. 2, 1891. VARIETIES OF LycHNA BELLARGUS (ADONIS) AT FOLKESTONE.—I have taken three very fine varieties of L. adonis this year, two males and one female. The female is very blue, and has a row of black spots on the fore wings just inside the white fringes. The males are very dark slate colour, with almost black fringes.—W. J. Austen; Radnor Street, Folkestone. DaASYCAMPA RUBIGINEA AND DasypoliA TEMPLI AT Poorr.—I took two perfect specimens of D. rubiginea at ivv during the evening of October 23rd. On November 2nd a male D. templi, which had been captured in a house here, was given to me.—J. H. D. Beates; Beech Hurst, Poole. ABUNDANCE OF CERTAIN LEPIDOPTERA AT WILLESDEN.—I visited again my favourite field this year in May and June, finding some species unusually plentiful, which looked as if the season was going to be a better one. For instance, Heliaca tenebrata was the first to appear, of which I took a very large number in fine condition. As soon as this was over, Ino statices came out in equal force, so I likewise obtained an extensive series. My last visit to this particular spot was on June 20th, when by that time I. statices was quite a pest, for not unfrequently three or four would be seen upon a single clover blossom ; the females on that day were more plentiful than the male. Huclidia mi was out in abundance at the same time, but TI did not go in so extravagantly for this insect. Last year Tanagra atrata swarmed, but this year it was only just coming out when I left, being later than last year. Amongst others that occurred in the same field was Emmelesia albulata, which was very common on one side only; and a good specimen of Drepana binaria fell to my net.—J. M. Apye; Christchurch, Nov. 21, 1891. CucULLIA CHAMOMILL®.—On the 5th inst. I bred an example of this species from larvee found in Chatham Dockyard in July last. The pup -had been a voyage to Bermuda and Halifax during August and September, NOTUS, CAPTURES, ETC. 17 and to Malta and back in October, but I do not think this would affect them.—GervasE F. MATHEW ; Lee House, Dovercourt, Nov. 17, 1891. HEspPeRIA Lingcota AT Harwica.—In July, 1886, I took several specimens of, as I thought, H. thawmas in this neighbourhood, and at the time felt rather puzzled about them as most of them were smaller and much darker than the thawmas I had been accustomed to take in Devon- shire, and with which I compared them, as also with some lineola I had purchased from a dealer, and they did not agree satisfactorily with either. I then put them aside as a probable East country variety of thaumas, and did not think anything more about them until the beginning of last year, when I saw Mr. Hawes’ account of H. lineola as an addition to the list of British butterflies (Entom. xxiii. 3). I then remembered my 1886 captures, and examined them again with my series of thauwmas and the butterflies I had purchased from a dealer as lineola, and which, as far as I could see, did not differ in any way from my thawmas, and again I could make nothing of them. Unfortunately I was then very busy, and had no time to read up descriptions, and so the butterflies were put away. Last July I took several more of these small dark Hesperids, and bred one from a pupa, which I found _ Spun up between some blades of coarse grass. Well, a few days ago, I was transferring some of this year’s captures from a store-box to my cabinets, when I came to these butterflies, and, as they were very fine and very fresh, I proceeded to replace some of my old ones, but directly I saw them along- side of my Devon thawmas I was again struck with the evident difference between them, and noticed that these specimens were exactly the same in appearance as those captured in July, 1886. I then determined to go carefully into the matter, and so placed all the small dark-coloured Harwich butterflies in a row, and the Devon ones beside them, together with the so-called lineola from the dealer, and then there seemed to be no mistake whatever that the Harwich species were abundantly distinct from the others; so then I got several books, and read up descriptions, and looked at figures, and satisfied myself that they were without doubt lineola, and that my purchased types of lineola were only thaumas. If I had been supplied with true lineola I should have made this discovery in 1886, though of course it is to a great extent my own fault that I did not, for if I had carefully read the various descriptions I could not have failed to have determined what I had captured. However, the only figures I had to refer to were rather misleading. Praun gives hardly any black streak to his male of thawmas, and the black margins of both species are figured about the same breadth, and the neuration of thawmas is shown as more distinct than in lineola, whereas the opposite is the case. In Lang’s figure the colour is much too light, and the black margins to the wings are not broad enough, and the inner edge is too well defined instead of being gradually “shaded off into the ground colour,” as Kane so well describes it. All my specimens are decidedly smaller than thaumas, and the males have the black streak on the fore wings very indistinct. I am glad that I was so fortunate as to breed a specimen this year, and hope, should I be here at the end of next June or beginning of July, that I may find the larve.—GerrvasE F. Matuew; Lee House, Dovercourt, Nov. 17, 1891. New Forest Notes.—From the 18th of July until the end of the month I found the collecting in Brockenhurst district better than I had ENTOM.—JAN. 1892. Cc 18 THE ENTOMOLOGIST, expected. During the first week I had the pleasure of the company of Mr. H. Robson. Our captures were almost identical as regards the number of species, if not quite so in numbers. We found Limenitis sibylla com- monly, and much less local than I had hitherto observed it, but only a small proportion of those taken were in good order. Argynnis paphia was of course abundant, but very few of the variety valesina were met with, although I have reason to believe that it occurred in about its usual numbers. A. adippe and A. aglaia were taken sparingly. Apatura iris was only seen. Larve of Gonopteryx rhamni were still common on the buckthorns, and, judging from the condition of the bushes, I should say that this species was unusually abundant in August. Heath-working pro- duced a long series of Gnophos obscuraria (including one black form), and some Hyria auroraria in lovely condition; also two Heliothis dipsaceus, which gave a little trouble before they were secured. Among other species taken were Psilura monacha, Calligenia miniata, Lithosia deplana, L. me- somella, and one L. quadra (which species I have not taken in the Forest since 1887), Epione apiciaria, Ellopia prosapiaria, Boarmia roboraria, B. repandata (one banded form), Geometra papilionaria, Iodis vernaria, Acidalia imitaria, A. emutaria, A. emarginata, Melanthia albicillata, Cidaria dotata, Gnophora derasa, Leucania turca, Triphena interjecta, and Anarta myrtilli. Sugar was an absolute failure in the Forest, but in the village Mania maura and a few other common species were attracted. Larve of the following species were either thrashed out or found by searching :—Smerinthus ocellatus, Macroglossa fuciformis, Nola strigula, Psilura monacha, Dasychira pudibunda, Bombyx rubi, Odontopera bidentata, Eugonia erosaria, Ennomos angularia, Amphidasys strataria, A. betularia, Ephyra punctaria, Cidaria siderata, Drepana lacertinaria, D. falcataria, D. binaria, Dicranura furcula, Stauropus fagi, Pterostoma palpina, Noto- donta camelina, N. dromedarius, N. ziczac, N. trepida, N. chaonia, N. tri- macula, Acronycta alni, Panolis piniperda, and Gonoptera libatrix. We were pleased with the result of our exertions with the beating-stick ; but, owing to the failure of sugar to attract and the scarcity of Geometers at dusk, the night-work had certainly lost its charm —ALFrrep T. MITcHELL ; 5, Clayton Terrace, Gunnersbury, W., Nov. 16, 1891. Nores on LeprpopreRA BrepD or CapTuRED IN 1891 :— Protracted larval stage of Cleora glabraria.—On July 9th I took a few larvee of Cleora glabraria in the New Forest. It was late for them, and only two came to the perfect state at the beginning of August. The rest were ichneumoned, and gradually died off; but two of them are still alive, December 13th. Erratic emergences of Notodonta trepida.—Moths continue to come out, and did so on October Ist, 22nd, 26th, November 15th, and December 12th. The pupe are, and have been, in the open air since June. They underwent some forcing last December and January, and again from the beginning of March till the end of June. Dasychira pudibunda.—A freshly-emerged male was found in one of our hot-houses on December 2ud. I suppose it has been accidentally forced. Gonopteryx rhamni flying in December.—I saw a specimen on December Sth flying in the sun in a large wood. Vanessa urtica feeding on wild hop.—A brood was found on this plant last July, and I reared some of them on the hop. They emerged in September, and were ordinary in appearance, NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 19 Sphinaz convolvuli was taken at Rannoch this season by a non- entomological friend of mine. He says it has been taken there before. Double-broodedness of Eupithecia coronata.—L took a specimen on May 14th, and on July 22nd I took another. On July 15th, 17th, and 18th I bred specimens of H. coronata from some larve which had been beaten off hawthorn in June.—W. M. Curisty; Watergate, Emsworth, Hants, December 13, 1891. Cavtures IN LANCASHIRE AND CornwaLL.—By the kindness of friends residing at Grange I was able to again visit Witherslack in the second week of July last. My object was to secure a series of Typhon, and in this 1 was successful, the butterfly being on the wing in large numbers; but what may perhaps be of more interest is that I found Hyria auroraria in abundance. In the following week my friends visited the moss again, but the insect had vanished. In September I spent a short holiday at Cornwall, staying at New Quay. I did not meet with much success in hunting, however, as my best captures were only three specimens of Anaitis plagiata, two measuring just under, and one just over, an inch and a half across the wings. ‘The specimens were thus smaller than those figured by Newman, and than the size indicated by Stainton; but as they belonged to the second brood this accords with Newman’s note.—W. Howarp Goutty; Wysefield, Romiley, Nov. 14, 1891. “Suear” versus Fruit as A Bair ror Lepipoprera.—The relative merits of “sugar” and fruit asa bait for Lepidoptera have many times been discussed in the pages of the ‘ Entomologist,’ but as I have seldom come across a greater contrast than is mentioned in a letter recently received from my friend Mr. Lachlan Gibb, now resident in Montreal, Canada, I think it desirable to put his experience on record, in the hope that some of our entomologists residing in fruit-growing districts may find a trial of his method of collecting to their advantage. He says:—“ I have done very well in Entomology. In ——— orchard, round the crab-trees, where the fruit is rotting on the branches, I have made a tremendous haul; by day nearly all the Graptas and Vanesside, and at night just as many Noctue as I liked to take, only requiring a light and several bottles (cyanide). Sugaring earlier in the season I found very bad, there being so much blossom over here.”—Rosr. Apxin; Lewisham, December, 1891. SUGARING A FAILURE IN Hampsaire.—Having noticed from time to time the different reports on sugaring this year, I might add that my experience coincides with several. I made two or three attempts at the end of June and beginning of July, but as the bait did not attract a single insect I did not repeat the experiment until near the middle of September, when there seemed some improvement, which induced me to renew operations. On the 20th of that month the weather was very stormy, rain falling in torrents the whole day more or less, and, if anything, was rather worse in the evening; so always having had good luck on such nights, I did not fail to sugar extra trees. On approaching the last one with my brush, I observed a considerable number of specimens, which were attracted by the sugar of the previous evening, evidently revived by the rain. I was very careful not to disturb them, and lit my lantern almost immediately, when I counted between twenty and thirty specimens on the tree, most of them being Phlogophora meticulosa, one or two Anchocelis lunosa, Xanthia Jlavago, Orthosia macilenta, &c., and two fine Xylina socia; the other 30 tHE ENToOMOLOGIst. trees, strange to say, had very few moths upon them; among them was another X. socia. I took four more of the last-named species in the best condition on succeeding nights. I believe sugaring has again been bad in the New Forest.—J. M. Apyre; Christchurch, Nov. 21, 1891. LEUCANIA EXTRANEA AND DasYCAMPA RUBIGINEA IN THE ISLE OF Purspecx.—On the evening of October 12th I had the good fortune to take a beautiful specimen of the very rare Leucania eatranea at sugar in our shrubbery; and by working ivy bloom in the same place I met with and secured four fine Dasycampa rubiginea on November 13th, and another on the following night. The latter species is decidedly rare here, as, in spite of the fact that I have worked for it pretty regularly, I can only boast of having taken one specimen previously, and that one occurred eight years ago.—Hustace R. Bankes; The Rectory, Corfe Castle, Dec. 15, 1891. Macroetossa vox, Newman.—Under the name Macroylossa splendens, many years since, I labelled a Macroglossa, in the National Collection, from Australia ; but, so far as I can discover, I have hitherto not published the fact that it is the insect described by myself, in P. Z. 8. 1875, p. 5, n. 7, pl. 1, fig. 6, as M. vor, Newman. The true Macroglossa vox of Newman, as Miskin has recently pointed out, is evidently Walker’s M. micacea.— A. G. Butter; British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London, 8.W., Nov. 18, 1891. BreEepina Notoponta DicT£o1DEs.—I have been rather successful in obtaining this season a number of larvee of the above species, but owing to my inability to rear them I have been much disappointed. I do not know if this insect is generally considered difficult to breed, but I found that when the larve were about half-grown they became very restless, leaving the birch stems and roaming about the cage. I had a large flower-pot, also a glass cylinder, whilst allowing plenty of space and air. Notwithstanding these precautions they nearly all developed a form of diarrhoea, after which the food was refused. Three reached the final stage, but only one pupated. I had one larva which lived nearly a week without food, and then it was killed for preserving. If the larva of this species is not delicate I cannot account for my failure, for they were not in any way neglected.—ALFrED T. MircHEt.; 5, Clayton Terrace, Gunnersbury, W., Nov. 10, 1891. SOCIETIES. EntTomoLoaicaL Society or Lonpon.—December 2nd, 1891.—The Rt. Hon. Lord Walsingham, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair. Mr. Henry A. Hill, of 182, Haverstock Hill, Hampstead, N.W. ; Mr. Frank Nelson Pierce, of 143, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool; and Mr. Carleton F. Tufnell, of Greenlands, Border Crescent, Sydenham, S.E., were elected Fellows of the Society; and Mr. Martin Stanger Higgs was admitted into the Society. Dr. D. Sharp exhibited and commented on a number of photographs of various species of Lucanide belonging to Mons. René Oberthir. Mr. C. G. Barrett exhibited specimens of local forms and varieties of Lepidoptera, taken by Mr. Percy Russ near Sligo, including Pieris napi, var. near bryonia ; Anthocharis cardamines SOCIETIES. 21 (male), with the orange blotch edged with yellow, and yellowish forms of tne female of the same species; very blue forms of Polyommatus alsus ; males of P. alexis, with the hind margin of the under wings spotted with black, and very handsome forms of the female; also varied series of Ayrotis cursoria, A. tritici, A. valligera, Hydrecia micacea, H. nictitans, Epunda lutulenta, Hadena protea, Odontoptera bidentata, Cidaria immanata, C. testata, C. pyraliata, and Boarmia repandata. The Rev. S. St. John exhibited two specimens of Lycena argiades, taken in Somersetshire by Dr. Marsh in 1884; three specimens of Deilephila euphorbia, bred from larvee found feeding on Kuphorbia paralias on the Cornish coast in September, 1889; and a series of various forms of Anchocelis pistacina, all taken in a garden at Arundel. Lord Walsingham, Mr. Barrett, and Mr. McLachlan took part in the discussion which ensued. Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited two dark specimens of Zygena minos, which had been caught by Mr. Blagg in Carnarvonshire. He remarked that the specimens were not representatives of complete melanism, and suggested that the word pheism ”—from ass, dusky—would be a correct word to apply to this and similar departures from the normal coloration of a species. Mr. C. J. Gahan exhibited specimens of the common “ book-louse,” dtropos pulsatoria, Fabr., which he heard making a ticking noise similar to that made by the “ death-watch ” (Anobium). Mr. B. A. Bower exhibited the following rare species of Micro-Lepidoptera:—Spilonota pauperana, Frol.; Gelechia osseella, Stn.; Chrysuclysta bimaculella, Haw.; and Elachista cingilella, Fisch. Lord Walsingham and Mr. Tutt made some remarks on the specimens. Mr. R. Adkin exhibited a variety of Anthocharis cardamines, and one specimen of Sesia scolieformis bred from a larva found at Rannoch. Mr. G. T. Baker read a paper entitled “ Notes on Lycena (recte Thecla), rhymnus, tengstreamti, and pretiosa. A discussion followed, in which Lord Walsingham, Capt. Elwes, and Mr. Baker took part. Mr. F. Merrifield read a paper entitled “ The effects of artificial temperature on the colouring of Vanessa urtice and certain other species of Lepidoptera.” ‘The author stated that both broods of all three species of Selenia, Platypteryx falcataria, Vanessa urtice, Bombyx quercus and var. callune, and Chelonia caia were affected by temperature in the pupal stage, the lower temperature generally producing the greater intensity and darkness of colour; some of the Vanessa urtice made a near approach to the var. polaris of Northern Europe. A long discussion ensued, in which Mr. HK. B. Poulton, Mr. McLachlan, Prof. Meldola, Mr. Barrett, Mr. Jenner Weir, and Lord Walsingham took part. Mr. W. Bateson read a paper entitled ** On the variation in the colour of the cocoons of Hriogaster lanestris and Saturnia carpini,” and exhibited a large number of specimens in illustration of the paper. Lord Walsingham congratulated Mr. Bateson on his paper, aud on the intelligent care and method shown in his experiments, and said that he was glad to see that at Cambridge there was an entomologist ready to enter this interesting field of investigation, and perhaps at some future day to contest the palm with Mr. Poulton as representing the sister University of Oxford. He had noticed that the larve of S. carpini, if left in a box with dead food, and probably partially starved, made a light cocoon ; but that when the cocoon was made under natural conditions, on living food- plants on the moors, it was of a dark colour. Mr. Poulton, Mr. Bateson, and others continued the discussion. — H. Goss and W. W. FowuLsr, Hon, Secs. 99 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. SourH Lonpon Enromotocicat, anp Naturat History Sooimty.— November 26th, 1891.—W. H. Tugwell, President,in the chair. Mr. J. A. Cooper exhibited five specimens of Arctia caia, L., the red colour of the inferior wings being replaced by yellow. He remarked that from some thousand larve collected near Wanstead Flats, all of which had been fed under normal conditions, he had reared seven of this form, and that all emerged on the same day. As far as he could say, there were no atmo- spheric conditions which would account for the variation. It would be noticed that one of the specimens had a blackish fringe to the inferior wings. Messrs. Tugwell, Carrington and Tutt made some observations on specimens of this insect occasionally having the fringes and antenne of a blackish colour. Mr. R. Adkin exhibited a specimen of Sesia scolieformis, Bork., bred at Rannoch from a larva found there, and he remarked on the difficulties attending the rearing of the species. Mr. Tugwell thought the specimen was smaller than those that were obtained from Llangollen, and he suggested “ assembling” as a method of obtaining males of the species, as S. sphegiformis and S. culiciformis were taken in this way. Mr. Car- rington described the method Mr. Nicholas Cooke adopted to take his species, and also the plan Mr, Salvage followed. He also said the Rannoch specimens were always smaller than the Welsh ones. Mr. R. Adkin also exhibited a specimen of Huchloé cardamines, L., taken at Hayward’s Heath, having a distinct V-shaped mark below the discoidal spot on the under side of the primaries. Mr. C. G. Barrett remarked on this form of variation as occurring in so many species, particularly the genus Oporabia and in Selina irrorella, Clerck; the V mark was caused by the union of the black scales on the two divisions of the median nervure. Mr. C. Fenn pointed out that in the specimen of H. cardamines shown, the black scales were not on the divisions of the nervure. Mr. Short exhibited Acronycta pisi, L.; dark forms of Spilosoma lubricipeda; and several varieties of Melanippe fluctuata, L. Mr. Hawes, a living example of Polyommatus phleas, L., bred from ovum deposited 28th August, the larva pupating October 2nd, and, after being kept in a high temperature, emerging on the 25th inst. Mr. Hawes also stated that he had been endeavouring to obtain ova from various species of butterflies by lamp- light, and had succeeded with Pararge megera, L., and Pieris napi, L. Mr. Edwards, a saw-fly, Albia fasciata, from Oxted, and various species of Exotic Lepidoptera from India, Java, Brazil, and made remarks thereon. Mr. R. South, a series of Liparis monacha var. eremita, Ochs., bred from French larve, and remarked that it would be interesting to ascertain the distribution of this form; he had never taken it in England, although he was told it occurred in the New Forest. Mr. C. G. Barrett was of opinion that this suffused form did not occur in the New Forest, but it was found in the Midlands. Mr. Tutt said Miss Kimber had bred an exceedingly dark one from the New Forest, and Mr. Dobson had got a fine series of banded forms from the same locality. Mr. Tugwell thought that in Mr. South’s specimens the darkening arose from the ground colour being darker, whereas in English specimens it was a thickening of the black scales that caused the variation. Mr. Billups stated that the ichneumon bred from the cocoon of Attacus cecropia, which was exhibited at a previous meeting, was Eryptus eatrematis. Mr. R. Adkin exhibited a collection of Lepidoptera from Eastbourne, and read notes relative thereto. Observations were made by members on collecting butterflies on dull days at rest; the Lycenide, Hesperide, and Papilio machaon and Melitea athalia were SOCIETIES. 93 specially alluded to. Some remarks were made as to obtaining all the in- formation possible with regard to the reported capture of Polyommatus virgauree near Seaford. December 19th.—-The President in the chair. Mr. C. G. Barrett ex- hibited and remarked on a number of species collected by Mr. Russ in the west of Ireland, in particular referring to the prevalence of pale and dark forms of so many species occurring together in a locality where the climate was an exceedingly wet and stormy one; among others he instanced several species of Agrotis, Cidaria immanata, Haw., Hydrecia micacea, Bork., &c.; there were also specimens of Lycena icarus, Rott., having black spots in the hind margin, and examples of Pieris napi, L., approach- ing bryonia. Mr. South said that the particular form of L. icarus occurred in the Isle of Wight and in Perthshire. Mr. Jenner Weir referred to P. napi, and said he had received the same form from Cavan. Mr. Fenn, in reference to the light and dark forms of certain species occurring together, said he thought wherever a variable species occurred the extremes would be found. Mr. Tutt said this was well known, but in his opinion there was generally a particular characteristic for each locality; although the whitest and palest forms of A. tritici occurred at Deal, yet some that were almost black were found; the majority of the specimens showed a tendency to run of a bluish tint, while those taken by Mr. Russ showed a tendency to run brown; other instances occurred with Teniocampa incerta, Hufn., Noctua castanea var. neglecta, Hb., and Xylophasia monoglypha, Hufn. Mr. R. Adkin exhibited a variety of Pieris napi, L., a female, in which the usual spots and apical patch of the fore wings were united to form an almost con- tinuous submarginal band; also a series of Asteroscopus nubeculosa, Esp. Mr. 8. Edwards, among others, exhibited Ornithoptera brookiana, from Borneo; and Mr. Weir remarked that until lately the species had alone represented a section of the genus, but recently an allied species had been discovered in Palawan, thus affording a further contribution to the probability that the fauna and flora of that island would prove to be more Bornean than Phillippine. Mr. J. H. Carpenter, a series of Plusia festuce, L. Mr. Tugwell, a box of Lepidoptera received from Mr. Reid, and remarked that there was nothing of any importance among them; he, however, had heard that Mr. Reid had taken Retinia duplana, Hb., and one of the Pterophori, which he could not identify ; the larva were found feeding on the under side of leaves of ragwort. Mr. Barrett said that the first specimens taken were referable to turionana; that duplana occurred earlier in the year; and since this had been pointed out Mr. Salvage and Mr. Reid had taken them. Mr. Tugwell also exhibited specimens of a dark Hupithecia from Paisley, with typical form of H'upithecia satyrata, to which species he thought they were referable; many members differed from this opinion. The meeting closed with a discussion on the effects of heat and cold producing variation. —H. W. Barker, Hon. Sec. LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE EwntomoLtoetcaL Soctety.—December 14th, 1891.—S. J. Capper, F.L.S., F.E.S., President, in the chair. Mr. Willoughby Gardner, F.R.G.S., read a paper entitled “A Preliminary List of the Aculeate Hymenoptera of Lancashire and Cheshire, with notes on the habits of the genera.” The author remarked that although but little had been done in the district in the order Hymenoptera, compared with the more favoured Lepidoptera and Coleoptera (of which very full local faunas had been compiled aud published by members of the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society), still much quiet work 24 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. had been done during a series of years by several observers; it was now very desirable, he said, that these scattered records should be brought together, so that they might be permanently preserved in a form that would serve as a basis upon which future information on the subject might be conveniently built up. The writer acknowledged the valuable assistance of the following local workers, from whose notes, along with his own, he was enabled to compile his paper, viz., Miss E. C. Tomlin, Mr. J. T. Green, the Rev. H. H. Higgins, Mr. J. R. Hardy, Mr. R. Newstead, F.E.S., and the late Mr. B. Cooke. The paper included a list of 161 species hitherto recorded in the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire, giving full particulars of localities, &c. ; this out of 373 species at present described as indigenous to Great Britain. The records included notes of the occurrence of such interesting and local insects as Astata stigma, Oxybelus mucronatus, Colletes cunicularia, Halictus atricornis, and Osmia xanthomelana. In order to afford some information to members of the Society who had not studied the order Hymenoptera, Mr. Gardner gave a running réswmé of the general habits of the insects of each genus, seriatim, throughout the paper, illustrating his remarks by specimens of the various species, cases containing nests, and “life histories,” &. The President exhibited a type collection of Hymenoptera. Miss Tomlin, of Chester, a collection of Hymenoptera, and specimens of Hylastes opacus, Er., Trypodendron domesticum, L., and Melophilus piniperda, L. Mr. Newstead, nests and specimens of Bombus pratorum, Megachile circumcincta, Andrena nigro- ened, Colletes cunicularia ; genitalia and leg of Crabo paluripes. Mr. Stott, a specimen of Charocampa celerio, on behalf of Mr. H.S. Clark, of Douglas, where it was captured this summer. Dr. Ellis, a collection of Coleoptera, made in the Spanish Pyrenees. The Library and Museum Committee, nests and specimens of British and Foreign Hymenoptera; and by Mr. J. T. Green, a collection of Hymenoptera.—F’. N. Prercr, Hon. Sec. BrrmincHam EnromoroaicaL Socrety.—November 16th, 1891.—The President, Mr. W. G. Blatch, in the chair. Rev. C. F. Thornewill showed a specimen of Sphina convolvuli, taken on September 30th at Burton- on-Trent. Mr. G. T. Baker, Callimorpha hera from Jersey and the Continent ; also Nemeophila plantaginis var. hospiton from various localities. Mr. P. W. Abbott, Nonagria geminipuncta and Toxocampa pastinum, series of each from the Isle of Wight. Mr. R. C. Bradley, series of the genus Calliphora, including grenlandica, azurea, cognata, kc. Rev. C. F. Thornewill said that he had found in a cellar at Stretton, near Ashley, forty or fifty specimens of Gonoptera libatriv ; also specimens of Triphosa dubitata. Rev. G. J. Nurse read a paper on “ Wicken Fen and its Moths,” mainly dealing with a holiday spent there this year, and including much information gathered during some years’ residence there. November 7th.—Mr. R. C. Bradley in the chair. Mr. R. C. Bradley showed a box of Lepidoptera, taken during the year at Sutton. Mr. C. J. Wainwright, Asteroscopus sphinx (cassinea) from Hanbury Park; and Calymnia affinis from Arley. Mr. E. C. Tye, a boxful of captures made this year, including Cherocampa porcellus from Sutton, Lithosia mesomella from Wye Forest, Noctua glareosa from Sutton, &c. Mr. P. W. Abbott, a boxful of this year’s captures, including Phibalapteryx lignata from Sutton, Noctua dahliifrom Sutton, &. Mr. G. T. Baker, a boxful of Scotch insects, collected at various times in the Shetlands and Hebrides, at Rannoch, and Forres by the Messrs. Salvage.—CotBran J. Wainwricut, Hon. See. THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Vou. XXV.) FEBRUARY, 1892. [No. 845. THE PAST WET SUMMER AND ITS PROBABLE EFFECT UPON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEPIDOPTERA. By Rosert Apxw, F.E.S. THE year 1891 will be long remembered by entomologists on account of its cold, wet summer. It is probable that such abnormal meteorological conditions would have an effect upon the development of Lepidoptera, and any note relative thereto should be of interest. I therefore venture to record a few cases, taken from my note-book, in which the emergence of a species from pupa appears to have been spread over an unduly long period, or the growth of larve unusually prolonged, presumably, by reason of the conditions referred to. | From some twenty pupz of Sesia ichneumoniformis obtained at the end of June, the first imago emerged on 12th July ; others followed at intervals until 22nd August. Rather more than half the total number produced perfect insects, the remainder dying when fully formed. The species appears to emerge on hot sunny mornings, between 7 and 10 o’clock, and it is probable that the large percentage of losses may have been due to the comparatively small number of suitable occasions for emergence. Dianthacia carpophaga var. capsophila: from a number of larve taken in the previous autumn the imagines commenced to emerge on 8rd July, and continued to appear until 24th August. A larva of Plusia gamma, taken 12th September, produced an imago in the middle of November. A brood of Eugonia erosaria fed up from ova on a growing oak tree. The ova commenced to hatch on 2nd July, and the larve fed up very irregularly, some reaching the pupal stage, while others were still quite small. The first moth appeared 8th August, and the last 30th September. Some few larve that had fed on until within a few days of the latter date, assumed the pupal state, but did not produce moths. From some sixty larve of Gnophos obscuraria, collected at ENTOM.—FEB. 1892. D 96 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. the end of May, the first imago emerged on 5th August, and the last on 80th September. Larve of Conchylis francillana, taken in January, produced the first moth on 27th July, and the last on 11th September. A fine young larva of Smerinthus populi, found on a poplar in my garden in September, fed up well until the leaves began to turn, being then but little more than half its full size; from this time it appeared to become sickly, but lingered on until Novem- ber, when the trees having lost their leaves, it died, not having attained anything like its full growth. Larvee of Phalera bucephala were exceedingly common during the autumn months; the more forward fed up and took the earth in due course, but numbers of the later larve were not full-fed when the leaves fell. Acronycta pst was also common in the larval stage; and from several collected and supplied with leaves from the later varieties of garden rose-trees, one continued to feed until the first week in December, when it retired among some pieces of rotten wood for pupation; but I am at present unable to say whether that operation was successfully performed. The sequel appears to be that the comparatively cold, wet weather of the summer and autumn months was unfavourable alike for the emergence of the imago or the growth of the larva. The larve resulting from the earlier moths may have obtained necessary sustenance from the vegetation while it was in a suitable state, but those resulting from the later emergences were ‘mpoverished by the advanced state of the only food obtainable, and fell victims to disease, or died of sheer starvation. Larve of many of the common species were undoubtedly more abundant than usual last autumn, but the state of things referred to in the foregoing notes, appears to indicate that a corresponding abundance of moths in the coming spring is improbable. Lewisham, January, 1892. SYNONYMY OF AMERICAN NOCTUID MOTHS. I am very glad that Prof. Smith has had the opportunity of personally going over our collection of Noctuide, and that his verdict—‘in the majority of instances his synonymy is correct ”— is so satisfactory. It is well known that Agrotis is a most difficult group, and therefore it is not surprising that I should make some mistakes in the case of very variable and closely assimilated species. In the case of the variety of A. turris placed with saucia, Prof. Smith admitted that the mistake was a very natural one. I admit that it is better to keep species separate than to unite them without EVOLUTION OF COLOURS IN THE VANESSA. Q7 sufficient evidence; but most entomologists will agree with me that a comparison of original types is generally sufficient. As regards structure, surely pectination or serration of the antenne is more strictly structural than the hairy clothing of the front or eyes. A. G. Burter. EVOLUTION OF COLOURS IN THE VANESSA. By W. W. Sirn. Tue results of Mr. F. H. Perry Coste’s patient researches embodied in his “Contributions to the Chemistry of Insect Colours,” which concluded in the September number of the ‘ Entomologist,’ will doubtless give a great stimulus to the study of the enchanting subject. Having studied that gentleman’s series of papers with care and interest, they seem to me to greatly advance our knowledge of the evolution of insect colours, at least in the Lepidoptera. With our present knowledge of the genealogy of species in some genera, it would be difficult to give their descent with accuracy. The New Zealand Vanesse, however, seems to me to afford a good example of the evolution of colour in the order advanced by Mr. Coste. In Pyrameis itea (probably the oldest living ancestor of the Vanesse), the broad oblique central band, with the large trifid spot outside the cell, are yellow; the secondaries are chestnut-red, becoming pale brown at base, and margined with black; two of the four minute discal black spots (or extremely rudimentary ocelli) are faintly pupilled with lilac. In our form of cardui (var. kershawi), three of the four discal spots are pupilled with pale blue; the whole four are larger, and are in a stage of development in advance of ttea; the oblique band on the primaries and discal area of secondaries, although “broken up,” occupy an intermediate stage in tone and arrangement of colours between itea and gonerilla. In kershawi there are two additional white spots on the primaries ; in gonerilla there are four, all more or less suffused with blue. The four discal black spots on secondaries of gonerilla exhibit a further stage of development in kershawi, and their position is slightly altered; the oblique belt on primaries and discal area of secondaries are scarlet, on a black ground. These crude remarks are only intended to apply to the New Zealand species mentioned; but there are many other species occurring in different countries which appear to occupy an inter- mediate position. I, however, think that itea is one of the oldest living representatives of the Vanesse known to entomologists. The same may be said of Hrebiola butleri, Fereday, in the Satyride. The latter is found only in New Zealand at Alpine heights, The former occurs also in Australia. The question of D2 28 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. the geographical distribution and development of both groups from these apparently primitive, or, at least, oldest-known types, presents an open field to entomologists who devote their time to the study of the subject. Perhaps I should add that the white spots on the primaries of cardui are opposed to this order of development in the Vanesse; but the ocreater absorption power of the ground colour of the species will explain this apparent anomaly. JI, however, have seen one specimen with one of the large spots near the cell pale yellow. Ashburton, N. Z., November 9, 1891. EVOLUTION OF INSECT COLOUBS. By F. H. Perry Coste, B.S8c., F.C.S., F.L.8. T am glad to learn from Mr. Cockerell’s remarks (Entom. xxiv. 278) that he now agrees with me as to the evolutionarv relations of red, yellow, white. Mr. Cockerell charges me with crediting him with a theory which he never adopted, viz., that the order was yellow, white, red; but he overlooks the fact that in attributing this theory to him I did so only very doubtfully, and marked my uncertainty as to his position by a query (Entom. xxiv. 209); and, furthermore, that in a footnote I stated that since writing the passage in the text, I had found in mv notes a reference to some remarks by Mr. Cockerell, from which I inferred that he did not advocate the yellow, white, red, order. Never- theless, it seemed desirable to retain the arguments as they stood, since even if Mr. Cockerell did not advocate the yellow, white, red, order of evolution, I could not know but that somebody else might; and, therefore, to make my own position logically secure, it was necessary to meet and dispose of any objections that might possibly—even if improbably—be made. As a matter of fact, the arguments in the concluding passages of my articles were formulated at an earlv stage of my experiments, when it appeared of vital importance to disprove the theory that yellow preceded white. I did not then know where Mr. Cockerell would put red; but only two suppositions seemed possible,— either that he would adopt the lineal order, yellow, white, red ; or the bifureate order, yellow-white and yellow-red. I gave a good deal of thought to the subject, and my reasoning was given in the concluding passages referred to. Originally it had been intended to state these arguments at an early stage in my articles, but for various reasons they were adjourned. By the time that my articles were nearly finished I had come to consider the dispute as of but minor importance, feeling that I had tolerably well demon- strated my own theory; but having twice promised to argue out the question with Mr. Cockerell, I felt in honour bound to fulfil NOTES ON BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 99 my promise, and to meet any objection that he either did or might raise. This will satisfy Mr. Cockerell, I hope; and I am glad to see that he admits my discussion of his non-existent objection to be of service. Finally, I may add that the varieties which Mr. Cockerell mentions of Sphinx and Tortrix are of the very greatest interest to me, since they are exact fulfilments of the predictions which I made whilst in ignorance that such varieties existed. December 22, 1891. NOTES ON BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. By RicHarp Sour. Unper the above title I propose to make a few remarks on the variation of certain species of Lepidoptera occurring in Britain. At the same time the most trustworthy points of distinction between closely-allied species will be mentioned, and, in some instances, the perplexing matter of synonymy referred to. The subjects of the present paper are Noctua brunnea and N. festiva. The next will deal with a Geometrid genus. Noctua BRUNNEA. In 1886 and 1887 I obtained large numbers of larve of this species from North Devon. They were found feeding on bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), and a species of wood-rush (Luzula), both plants growing in luxuriant masses in the small woody glen where the larve were collected. Although there was considerable variation as regards the coloration of the larve, the markings were not subject to any material modification, except so far as concerns the transverse line or patch on the dorsal area of the 12th segment. This was always some shade of yellow, but sometimes so pale as to appear almost white ; the width, too, of this marking was also variable, often broad and conspicuous, but in some few individuals repre- sented by an exceedingly thin and very short line. From the specimens bred | selected an extensive and most variable series, and it is to these that my remarks will more especially apply ; but I shall also have occasion to refer to series of the species from Aberdeen, Perth, and Rotherham, kindly sent to me by Messrs. Reid, Ellison, and Young. The following is a general description of Noctua brunnea :— Fore wings brown, with a glossy purplish reflection, traversed by three usually distinct, double, wavy, darker brown lines; the first of these (basal) is straight and extends only to the median nervure, the second (inner) is slightly oblique, and the third (outer) curves to the first median nervule, and from thence descends straight to the inner margin ; the pale, narrow, wavy, submarginal 30 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. band is inwardly bordered with dark brown, especially towards the costa, and this colour not unfrequently fills up the space between the submarginal band and outer line; on the costa there are three yellowish dots between submarginal band and outer line, and two dark spots at the commencement of each of the double lines ; the reniform stigma is distinctly outlined, and often filled up with ochreous, except at its lower end, which is dark grey or even blackish; the orbicular is not always well defined ; the claviform is represented by a round black spot immediately below the orbicular ; there is a conspicuous black or blackish quadrate spot between the reniform and orbicular, a round or triangular one before the orbicular, and sometimes a minute one edged with white between the inner and basal lines; generally there is a brown transverse shade from the quadrate spot to the inner margin. Hind wings pale fuscous brown, with an inconspicuous central lunule ; fringes pinkish. Colour varvation.—From the normal brown with purplish reflection the colour of N. brunnea varies in two principal directions ; one of these leads to a pale reddish brown, tinged with faint violet-grey, very like some forms of N. festiva; and the other to a fuliginous brown, suffused with ashy grey. Examples of the last are in the Rotherham and Aberdeen series, whilst the paler forms are among the specimens from N. Devon. There are, however, N. Devon examples which are quite as dark in colour as any of the specimens in either of the northern series. The ashy grey and the violet-grey suffusion varies greatly in intensity ; in some specimens the former is very strong, giving the insect a grey-brown coloration. In a few specimens from N. Devon the discal area is tinged with ochreous. Variation of the stigmata.—Reniform outlined in ochreous, the centre occupied by a curved ochreous line, which in many examples is thread-like, in others only to be traced with a lens, whilst in others again it is broad or very broad. It appears therefore that the typical character of the reniform stigma depends on the dilation of the central ochreous line. In one . example from N. Devon there are some pale ochreous longi- tudinal streaks just beyond the reniform. The orbicular stigma, usually ill-defined and only partially outlined in ochreous, is in some specimens well formed and even conspicuous. ‘The reni- form and orbicular stigmata sometimes exhibit a tendency to amalgamate at their lower extremities, as in Dianthecia cucubali. In other specimens the outer edge of orbicular and inner edge of reniform are united by a continuance of the ochreous outline along the median nervure from one to the other; in these cases the stigmata are aberrant in contour. The claviform stigma, most frequently represented by a black dot just below the orbicular, is in some specimens fairly well-defined, and its out- line can be traced right up to the inner transverse line. NOTES ON BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. SE Variation of the discoidal markings.—Occupying the discoidal cell, the space between the subcostal and median nervures closed by the reniform, isa black wedge-shaped dash, generally ex- tending from the inner edge of the reniform to inner transverse line, and its continuity broken by the orbicular. In some of the specimens in each series this is represented by a quadrate spot, very little darker than the ground colour, between the stigmata, and there is no trace of it before the orbicular. Variation of the transverse markings.—The basal and inner lines are sometimes very indistinct, and in a specimen from N. Devon the submarginal pale band is not clearly defined ; the outer line is invariably present, but in a few instances its dupli- cate character is not apparent. In one specimen from N. Devon the inner line is less oblique than usual, and the space between it and the basal is filled in with dark brown, thus forming a basal band from costa to inner margin; two of the Aberdeen specimens also have this band, but, as their general tone of colour is darker, the aberration is less striking. Variation of the costal markings. —'Vhe yellowish spots, although sometimes very minute, are almost always to be traced, but in a few specimens one or more of the dark spots are absent or obscured. In a few specimens from each locality the edge of the costa is yellowish from outer line to the base, interrupted by the dark spots, and a dark dash before the basal line. Hubner’s figure 121 represents a specimen with a yellowish streak along the apical portion of costa, and I have a N. Devon specimen marked in this way, but it does not agree in other respects with the figure. Except that they are larger, some of the pale specimens from N. Devon are exceedingly like some English N. festiva. There is, however, a difference between the two species, which is at once perceived by anyone acquainted with the various forms of brunnea and festiva, but this is not easily expressed in a few words. Fortunately it is unnecessary to go into minute points of difference, as we have a valuable differential character in the submarginal band, which is wavy in brunnea, but only indented below costa and towards inner margin in festiva. Some examples of N. brunnea bear a strong superficial resemblance to N. dahliit. In the latter species the submarginal band is somewhat similar to that of N. festiva, but the area beyond this band is always as dark as the darkest colour on the rest of the wing. In brunnea the marginal area is invariably of the same tint as the palest colour on the other portion of the wing. Noctua FESTIVA. Fore wings ochreous, ornamented with brown of various shades; orbicular usually of the ground colour; reniform usually only outlined in ochreous, but sometimes filled up with the same 32 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. colour, and with a dark spot at its lower extremity; the clavi- form is usually represented by a blackish dot below orbicular, but in some examples it is completely outlined and filled up with ochreous. There is often a blackish quadrate, sometimes roundish, blotch or spot between the stigmata, and a triangular one before the orbicular one; sometimes there is also a black dot, edged externally with whitish, between the inner and basal lines ; these marks are the exposed sections of a black wedge- shaped streak in the discoidal cell. Three sinuate, double, dark lines traverse the wings, the basal terminates just below the median nerve, the inner is sharply angulated near the costa and above inner margin, and the outer is curved below costa, and then runs parallel with outer margin; the submarginal band 1s pale, indented below costa and before inner margin. All these lines originate in dark spots on the costa, and there are often three pale spots between outer line and submarginal band. Space between the outer line and submarginal band is often filled up with brownish. A series of black spots on outer margin, and there is also frequently a series of white dots just beyond the outer line. Hind wings grey-brown, with a darker central lunule, and, sometimes, transverse line, the latter, when present, being often bordered externally with paler. Fringes ochreous, with a rosy tinge. The foregoing is not a description of an individual specimen of N. festa, but is drawn up for the purpose of conveying a- general idea of the species. Although I have a large number of specimens of the species, I am only able to select examples which nearly agree, but are not exactly identical with Hubner’s five figures of this species. The colour of N. festiva ranges from pale ochreous to chest- nut-brown, and from grey to fuliginous grey-brown; so far as 1 know, the greyish coloration is confined to northern festiva. The ornamentation is subject to modification of a comprehensive and most interesting character, and to a large extent the variation exhibited in my series is analogous to that of N. brunnea. The transverse lines are strongly defined in some specimens, whilst in others they are mostly obsolete; the discoidal cell between the stigmata is often no darker than the rest of the fore wing, but sometimes there is a reddish quadrate spot in place of the usual black one; the stigmata may be only faintly outlined, and sometimes the orbicular is completely lost. The brownish shade between outer lne and submarginal band is frequently only repre- sented by a short transverse dash from costa, and even this in one or two examples in my series is eliminated. Sometimes there is no trace of a claviform stigma. ‘This is what may be termed the ordinary variation of N. festiva ; but there are a few aberrations of the species which deserve special consideration, and I therefore venture to briefly describe them as follows :— NOTES ON BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 33 A. Fore wings pale greyish ochreous; stigmata and trans- verse lines very indistinct; a purple-brown dash from costa passes between the stigmata, and unites with a purple-brown band extending from lower end of reniform to inner margin. Hind wings grey-brown, the lunule is reduced to an indistinct spot, and there is an indistinct pale central transverse band, but no dark line. Fringes pale grey, tinged with pinkish. A male. This specimen was bred from larve found in North Devon; two other specimens bred from the same lot of larve are modi- fications of this form. B. Basal half and outer margin of fore wings light ochreous; other portions pale reddish brown, limited inwardly by a purplish-brown dash from costa, which passes between stigmata and unites below the reniform with a band of the same colour running to the inner margin. The stigmata are very faintly outlined ; transverse lines obsolete. Hind wings grey-brown, with darker lunule, central and submarginal lines, the latter followed by a pale interrupted band. Fringes of fore wings pale brown, preceded by a row of black dots; of hind wings ochreous grey, with a faint rosy tinge. A female example. Received from Carlisle, but I have no information as to exact locality. I have a somewhat similar specimen from N. Devon. C. Similar in character of marking to B, but the basal half and outer margin of fore wings are violet-grey, and the brown of other portions has a purple tint; the transverse lines are trace- able, and the reniform is outlined in violet-grey; fringes rosy. Hind wings grey-brown, with central and submarginal trans- verse lines ; fringes ochreous, tinged with rosy. A small male. This very pretty form, which was received from Forres, appears to be a modification of Hubner’s 114. D. Fore wings violet-grey, with some vinous-red hairs at the base above inner margin; transverse lines distinct; stigmata paler, with a vinous-red quadrate blotch between them ; there are some pale dots beyond outer line, each dot followed by short longitudinal black streaks ; the outer margin is darker than rest of the wing; fringes rosy, preceded by a row of black dots. Hind wings grey-brown, with darker outer border; fringes ochreous, tinged with rosy. A male specimen. Mr. Reid, of Pitcaple, Aberdeenshire, was good enough to send me this very handsome form, together with other varieties of N. festiva from his district. ‘There is another specimen, also a male, of this form in the series, but it lacks the vinous-red hairs at the base of fore wing. HK. Fore wings reddish brown, basal half very slightly paler ; orbicular indistinctly outlined in blackish, with an inner edging of pale ochreous ; reniform outlined in blackish, with a brownish centre, and filled up with pale ochreous; transverse lines ill- defined, central shade and band beyond outer line darker brown. A temale specimen. ‘This is also in the Pitcaple series, 34 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. In the above remarks on the variation of N. yestiva, I have included the small moorland and mountain form, usually, and as I think, correctly, referred to conjlua, Treits. It has been stated that the fore wings of true conflua are narrower and more pointed than those of festiva; but, as I read Treitschke’s de- scription of this insect, I cannot find that the shape of the wings is mentioned by him, and I consider that his description of conflua applies very well to certain small forms of festiva in my own collection. There is much diversity in the length of the fore wings as compared with their width, both in Scotch and English specimens of N. festa. The fore .wing of some examples is in length barely twice the width, whilst in other specimens it is more than twice the width. Again, the apices are much rounder in some specimens than others, and in a few they may be termed pointed ; but these examples are not all of the small conflua form. Southern specimens vary in size from 1j in. to1}in. Scotch mainland specimens range from 1 in. 2 lines to 1 in. 5 lines, and Shetland from 1 in. 3 lines to 1 in. 5 lines; but only one of my eighteen Shetland specimens is less than 1 in. 4 lines. It would seem therefore that this local form is fairly uniform in the matter of expanse. With reference to conflua, Treitschke himself says that his type was taken on the Reisengebirge ; these mountains are in the north of Bohemia, separating that country from Silesia. Duponchel, in the seventh volume of the ‘ Histoire Naturelle des Lepidopteres,’ &c., published in 1827 (the same year that Treitschke published his description of conflua in ‘Schmetterlinge von Kuropa,’ vol. vi. pt. 1), says that the insect in question was originally taken in Hungary in 1824, and that Treitschke sent it to Boisduval under the MS. name of Apamea conflua. At the time this insect came under his notice, no description or figure of it had been given to the entomological public ; so Duponchel figured and described it under the name of Noctua (Apamea) conflua, Treits. I have this figure before me, and some speci- mens from Aberdeen, which are certainly the same form, although not exactly identical in every particular. The following is a description of the figure :— Fore wings pale ochreous brown, the basal area limited by a transverse curved reddish-brown band; submarginal band, a spot before the orbicular, a larger one between the orbicular and reniform, also reddish brown; the reniform is of the ground colour, the orbicular is rather paler. Hind wings fuscous grey, with a broad darker hind marginal border. Duponchel says the insect is reddish grey; the stigmata almost effaced, and the space between them rust-colour; and this description fits the Aberdeen specimens referred to almost exactly. There is no great difficulty in separating typical conflua from NOTES ON BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 35 typical festiva, but when an extensive series of festiva, com- prising specimens from all parts of Britain, is examined, the impossibility of specifically separating conflua will be admitted. An attempt has recently been made to establish the Shetland form of festiva as the true British representative of Treitschke’s conflua. Although it might possibly be a present convenience to adopt a name for an insect which does not properly belong to it, the expedient would certainly lead to future confusion. The Shetland form of festiva is as distinct from conflua of Treitschke as it is from Hubner’s type of festiva ; therefore, we must retain for it the varietal name of thulei, which has already been given to it by Dr. Staudinger, I believe, but [ am not quite certain of the author. Thulei undoubtedly appears to be specifically dis- tinct from festiva, and if it were not for the fact that it is clearly connected by intermediate forms with that species, I should be inclined to consider it distinct. As I have mentioned above, this form is fairly uniform in wing-expansion, but it varies con- siderably in colour and ornamentation, some of the specimens being almost fuliginous brown, with pale greyish brown trans- verse lines, with or without black spots between stigmata ; others are pale reddish brown, with indistinct paler transverse lines, but the space between outer line and submarginal band filled up with dark brown, and the three sections of black discoidal streak exposed. One specimen is pale greyish, with paler transverse bands in place of the usual lines, the discal area is clouded with brownish, and the space between the outer and submarginal bands conspicuously darker; the hind wings have a darker lunule and pale central line. The majority of the specimens are grey-brown or dark reddish brown, with the space enclosed by each of the double transverse lines paler ; the space between outer line and submarginal band always, and that between basal and first lines sometimes, filled up with darker ; the reniform and orbicular stigmata, with usual black spots, are generally well-defined, and the claviform is sometimes bar- shaped. The hind wings are always fuscous grey-brown ; the fringes are ochreous, frequently, but not invariably, tinged with pinkish ; a distinct central lunule is rather the exception than the rule. Subrufa (Haworth=festiva, Hubner, 467 and 468) is the form without black spots between the stigmata or before the orbicular. Godart’s figure (pl. 62, fig. 1, dahlii) may represent a modification of this form, but certainly is not dahli. Congener (Hubner, 617 =festiva 2 Godart, pl. 61, fig. 5) is reddish in tint, especially on the median area; all the markings well-defined. Neither of these forms are uncommon. In some specimens of N. festiva from Germany, in Mr. Leech’s collection, the discoidal cell is occupied by an intensely black cuneiform streak, which extends from the inner edge of 36 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. reniform almost to the base of the nervures; the orbicular is somewhat smaller than usual, and entirely surrounded by the black. In these specimens the claviform is also unusually well developed, but curiously formed ; it consists of a pale spot, of the same size and shape as the orbicular, encircled with black, and with a black wedge-shaped dash from its outer edge. It would be very interesting to hear that a form similar to the above was known to occur in Britain. Noctua descripta, Bremer, which occurs in the Amur and Japan, is not unlike some varieties of N. festa, but the submarginal band is differently formed. Prof. Smith’s description of Noctua hospitalis, Grote,* seems to agree with some British forms of N. festiva. LEPIDOPTERA IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF ROLDAL, NORWAY. By tue Rev. F. A. Watxer, D.D., F.E.S. BreironD Hoven is most charmingly situate on a steep grassy slope overlooking the centre of the lake and valley of Roldal, with craggy heights and rugged scaurs in the immediate background. On the opposite shore of the lake other hills, of similar aspect and elevation, are not wanting. These are still more abundantly clothed with pine-wood and copses of birch, and are reproduced, along with their snow-streaked summits, in the glassy waters of the lake, as in a mirror, to the delight of the beholder, as he gazes towards one end of the lake where, nearly three miles off, the church, hotel and hamlet of Roldal may be seen; or else directs his eyes four miles in the other direction, where the lake terminates on that side also, and the upward ascent is commenced in quest of the picturesque surroundings of Naes, along the road which up to that point has skirted the water-side. To the rear of Roldal village rises the mighty Sceter, over 4000 ft. in height, with its deep snow drifts, mountain tarns, lengthy Alpine pass, innumerable patches of snow, and, in some spots, even plateaux of the same, waterfalls, and torrents. As some misconception has prevailed respecting the nomenclature of this district, it may tend to make matters clear if 1 observe that Breifond is the name of the hotel; also of the glacier on the other side of the lake, nearly opposite but six miles away among the hills, and only to be reached after a steep climb. Haarre (or Horre), the title given to the new chaplaincy to which 1 am the first appointed, is the designation of the steep mountain slopes that stretch upward to the rear ot the Breifond Hotel. NRoldal is the most comprehensive term, and includes the whole of the valley and lake. * ‘Revision of the Species of the Genus Agrotis,’ Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus, No. 38, LEPIDOPTERA OF NORWAY. 37 With regard to the Flora of the neighbourhood, there is an abundant undergrowth of such plants as Campanula latifolia, Viola tricolor, Matricaria inodora, Geranium sylvaticum. two or three species of Hieracium, Rhinanthus crista-galli, Galeopsis versicolor, one or two kinds of Stachys, Ranunculus acris, and the bilberry and dwarf juniper everywhere. Other plants that may be enumerated are the wild strawberry, Orchis maculata, Hrio- phorum, Saxifraga pyramidalis (locally known as the bride’s flower here), S. stellaris, S. nivalis, Rubus chamemorus, Melampyrum, and Aconitum napellus. Certain of these last only occur, or at least are met with more abundantly, at a considerable elevation on the mountain side, and close to the snow range. As regards Entomology, diurnal Lepidoptera are by no means numerous. Pieride are only represented by Pieris brassicae, not, however, plentiful, and one or two specimens of P. rape. Vanes- side by one solitary specimen of V. cardut, and only two or three specimens of V. urtice. There are, however, numbers of the larve of the latter kind feeding. There are three species of Erebia; of these by far the commonest is E. ligea, found from an elevation of about 1400 to 2000 ft., and especially in the neighbourhood of the birch copses, the buttercup and hawkweed being the flowers that it chiefly affected. Quite the best locality for this kind proved to be a succession of two or three meadows situate about five miles from Roldal, at the foot of the ascent to Haukalid Sceter, and boggy in places; and the same remark applies to the occurrence of Argynnis pales and var. lapponica. The second species of EHrebia, but occurring very sparingly in comparison of FE. ligea, is E. medusa var.; and the third kind, EF. lappona, alias manto, with grey under side of lower wings and smaller ocelli on upper wings, only found close to the snow range at an elevation of nearly 4000 ft. on the Sceter, and at 3000 ft. on Haarre Mountain, but never lower than the last-named elevation. Twelve specimens of this last butterfly were captured. Its scarcity (alluded to in Mr. Norris’s ‘“‘Notes on Butterflies from the Apennines” [Entom. 277]) is in part to be accounted for owing to the storms of wind and rain so frequently prevailing on the cloud-capped heights where, alone, it is to be found; while for other butterflies all was sunshine in the vicinity of Roldal Lake beneath. One or two specimens of Argynnis aglaia were seen daily, and occasionally more, and this species apparently increased in frequency towards the close of July. Three other species of Argynnis were also captured, namely, A. pales var. lapponica, no, and euphrosyne; pales and lapponica proving very abundant, and far outnumbering the two latter kinds. Melitea cinzia was fairly common at the beginning of July, but faded and worn, in this respect furnishing a marked contrast to the specimens of the same butterfly that I took at Granadain May. To all appearance it had quite disappeared before the end of July. Of S. mera I suc- 88 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. ceeded in taking about a dozen specimens; it was noticed almost daily, flitting up and down the high boulders by the side of the road bordering the lake, but was nowhere very plentiful. Cano- nympha pamphilus was represented by two worn specimens taken at Naes. Of Chrysophanes phleas I only captured one specimen, and only saw, so far as I recollect, one more. C. chryseis and C. virgauree proved about equally common. I captured a long series of both sexes of each of these two species. C. chrysets is represented by more females, and C. virgauree by more males. The latter species is, I think, rather more local, as well as later in time of appearance. Genus Polyommatus was represented by P. alexis and P. egon, both fairly common. MHesperide by one solitary specimen of Pamphila sylvanus taken at Buar-Brae, near Odde. Lepidoptera-Heterocera were not numerously represented, so far as my captures are concerned. Noctuide: Chareas gra- minis, Caradrina cubicularis, Agrotis segetum, A. candelisequa, Apamea fibrosa? Geometride: Hubolia mensuraria, Fidonia atomaria, F’. brunneata, Anaitis plagiata; also a species of Hupi- thecia. Of Crambide, Crambus pascuellus. All the above-named moths were taken at Roldal. Another specimen of Anaitis plagiata was captured at Bratlandsdal, as well as Boarmia repandata. As regards Neuroptera, I took one specimen of Aischna juncea in the outskirts of Bergen, and one of 4. pratensis on my return drive from the Bratlandsdal, where there was a wall of rock immediately to the right of the road, and a foaming torrent close beneath on the left. The pony drawing my carriole was advancing at a fast trot, and the dragon-fly came tilting in an opposite direction between the vehicle and the cliff. At the moment of my catching it I made certain that I had lost it, as the hoop of the net sprang out of the ferrule. Great quickness of eye and hand on this particular occasion alone enabled me to secure a species which was previously unrepresented in my collection, and I am convinced that I might make many attempts without meeting with like success. Of Hischna juncea, also new to my collection, I only saw and took the one specimen above recorded. Of 44. pratensis, possibly six or eight in all were noticed, some darting above the beds of the boulder stream and foaming mountain torrents, and one or two flying over boggy ground in the vicinity of the snow-fed tarns and runlets at a much higher elevation. Phryganide are represented by three specimens from Roldal Lake. One may possibly be Limnephilus griseus ; the other two belong to a larger species. Among the Coleoptera may be enumerated Geotrupes stercorarius, G. syl- vaticus, Cetonia enea, Aphodius fossor, A. depressus, Calathus melanocephalus, Nebria oliviert, Coccinella septempunctata, Philor- thus eneus?, Agriotes aterrimus, Chrysomela marginata, Carabus violaceus, Pterostichus sp.? All the above from Roldal. Silpha rugosa was obtained from a reindeer’s skull on the peat moss at USE OF THE HAIRS OF ACRONYCTA ALNI, 39 Haukalid. Necrophorus mortuorum, Lina e@nea, and Trichius fasciatus occurred at Buar Brae. Of these species, Lina e@nea infested the hazels in thousands along the road to the glacier, and its larve in particular were speedily reducing the bushes to a skeleton condition. The handsomely-barred T'richius fasciatus. was found exclusively on the blossoms of the scabious, where it bore a close superficial resemblance to a humble bee. Among Hymenoptera may be enumerated, from Roldal, Bombus lappo- nicus, B. agrorum, B. subterraneus; from road to Sceter, B. lucorum, B. subterraneus; from Bratlandsdal, B. lucorum, B. agrorum; from Buar Brae, B. lucorum, B. agrorum, B. lapponicus ; from Bergen, B. agrorum. Also from Buar Brae a single speci- men of Vespa media, and of Tenthredo chloros; from Roldal, T. mesomela, Formica nigra, Allantus arcuatus, Odynerus pictus, O. (Lionotus) tristis, Megachile centuncularis, Lyda histrio, Ophion luteum, and two or three unnamed species of Ichneumonide. The Diptera of Roldal include Calliphora vomitoria, C. grenlandica, Sarcophaga mortuorum, Scatophaga stercoraria, Musca cesar, Eris- talis tenax, EH. similis, H.nemorum?, Mesembrina meridiana, Oliviera lateralis, Sarcophaga hemorrhoidalis, Helophilus tumulatus, H. frutetorum, Chrysotoxum fasciolatum, Polietes lardaria, Hematopota pluvialis, Scatophaga sp. ?, Therioplectes auripilus (tabanus), Volu- cella bombylans, Eristalis arbustorum, Scyphus ribesii, S. sp. allied to corolle, Platychirus manicatus, Syritta pipiens. On the road to Seeter, Therioplectes auripilus, and Hematopota pluvialis once more; and from Buar Brae, Volucella bombylans and Empis tessellata. Orthoptera conclude the list with a single specimen of a common species of Pezotettiz. USE OF THE HAIRS OF ACRONYCTA ALNI. By Maurice Firz-Gipson. THE larva of this insect is unique, among those which have come under my notice, as having two perfectly distinct forms in the course of its larval existence. Into these forms I have made some examination. The first form, which it assumes for the purpose of escaping the notice of birds and other enemies,—the entomo- logist no doubt included,—I shall call the Cryptic* (xpirtw, I hide) or “concealing”? form. In this form, which the larva wears until the last moult, a bird’s dropping is most successfully imitated; and as the larva lies on the upper side of an alder leaf, with its half-curled body gradually shading from white to grey and from grey to brownish black, the whole presenting a half shiny, half greasy appearance, not one in a hundred of non- entomologists would believe that the somewhat unpleasant- * This designation is borrowed. 40 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. looking object was alive. When the time comes for the larva to moult for the last time, it is then too large to any longer hope to deceive the eyes of its enemies under its previous disguise, and accordingly a complete change takes place. All this time it has possessed on the second segment four indistinct hairs—two on each side ; and on the remaining segments two—one on each side. Now, on assuming its final coat, the hairs on the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, tenth, and eleventh segments are magnified considerably, being now about the thick- ness of a horse-hair, and at the tip of each, presenting the appearance of having been hammered flat, the hairs on the other segments remaining rudimentary. These hairs, and especially the double number on the second segment, give the larva the most formidable appearance imaginable. In other respects the body changes in a very remarkable way to a ground colour all over of the most intense metallic green, identical with that so familiar to all of us on the wings of Z. fili- pendule; while on each segment after the head there extends laterally a broad rectangular streak of bright yellow. This com- bination of colour,—the dark green and bright yellow,—together with the flat-tipped bristles, unites to give one that uncomfortable sensation we all experience on seeing a wasp in too close proximity. To this form I give the name Sematic* (cnua, a warning). But the bristles have not yet done all their work. When the time comes at which the larva intends to undergo its change to a pupa, it descends the tree, and singles out some nice rotten stick lying on the ground, and this it excavates with its powerful mandibles. In this process of excavation,—and in the case of one larva I watched the process for four hours on end,—much sawdust is formed; and as the work advances, and the larva gets farther and farther into the wood, he finds it necessary to retract his body, every now and then, to sweep out this obstruction, and in this action the flat-tipped bristles are of the utmost service, for each bristle as it comes out brings along with it one, two, or three fragments of wood, and, of course, “every little helps.” It is extremely interesting to watch this process of excavation going on. When the larva considers he has dug in far enough, he sets himself to widen his domicile ; and when he has made it roomy enough to turn completely round in,—a work in which the bristles come in useful again, —he enters it finally, and, after a thorough sweep out, reserves the last few fragments of wood, and with them spins a slight web in the aperture of his retreat, and then resigns himself to internal and external metamorphosis, after which he les quiet till the ensuing June brings him out a perfect insect. * This designation is borrowed. THE PAISLEY ‘‘ puG.” 41 T have dwelt more particularly on the subject of the bristles, because it has occurred to me,—what I have never seen or heard suggested before,—that these very pronounced bristles, in the case of several of the genus Acronycta, are specially intended for this sweeping-out process during excavation of the pupa’s winter quarters. This is yet more apparent in the case of Acronycta leporina, which when, after the last moult, it enters on this exca- vating process is nothing more than one great silky brush. Another instance is A. megacephala, in whose case I have observed the same use of the hairs, though the tips are not flat- tened in either of these insects. Of course I only refer to those larve in which the bristles become pronounced in the last moult, many other larvee possessing more or less defined bristles, varying in proportion to their size throughout their larval existence. Mr. Newman, in his work, makes no mention whatsoever of the first form of the larva, and in stating that the hairs are pro- nounced on every segment he is scarcely correct. A. alni seems to have occurred pretty generally this year; upwards of a hundred were taken in the New Forest this season by one collector. Dublin, Dec. 18, 1891. THR PAISLEY “PUG” (HUPITHECIA CASTIGATA, var:), By W. H. TueGwetu. For several years past our Paisley friends have sent us a melanic form of some undetermined Eupithecia. This insect has been a puzzle to many lepidopterists, and has been named in turn EH. albipunctata, E. satyrata, E. trisignata, and E. vir- gaureata ; but evidently all these are errors of differentiation, as, when placed with these species, they are clearly not at home. During the past autumn my friend Mr. A. M. Stewart, of Paisley, most generously sent me several imagines of this insect, both bred and caught examples; he, too, kindly sent me three pup, part of a brood he had reared to that stage from ova deposited by a captured female. The young larve, on hatching, were supplied with a selection of all likely plants growing in the locality in which they are found. Heather (Calluna vulgaris) was the food they attached themselves to, and fed up on it entirely. Mr Stewart also sent me a description of the larve, which, like many of the Ewpithecia, differed so much inter se that it was almost a hopeless task to follow. With all this material to hand, it appeared to me that it should be fairly easy to decide what it really was, as I possessed all the British species, save innotata, pernotata, and egenaria ; but in practice it was not so facile, the markings being so ENTOM.—FEB, 1892, E 42 THE ENTOMOLOGIS'. obscured by its melanism. I was disposed to hold it a var. of satyrata, to which species it came very near to some of our southern forms; but when I showed my series at the South London, this idea did not find favour, and it occurred to me that the northern forms of satyrata varied in another direction. I was convinced of my error. One gentleman (Mr. Tutt) boldly stated it was only virgaureata, and that when they were first sent out by the Paisley collectors they were sent with typical virgaureata ; but, finding they were wanted in the south, they now sent out only the selected melanic form. After this state- ment I wrote to Mr. Stewart for information. Asking him if they did get virgaureata, and if the insects sent to me were selected, Mr. Stewart replied as follows:—‘‘I never heard of or took Eupithecia virgaureata here, and its food-plant, the golden-rod, I have only found once, and that many miles from where we take © the ‘‘ pug.” I know the plant well, as I am tolerably well up in Botany, having a much finer collection of plants than insects. The specimens sent you were not selected, but just our usual form ; when taken freshly emerged they are a beautiful glossy erey-black, some a trifle darker than others, but as a rule they vary very little. I doubt Mr. Tutt is making a mistake when he says he got typical virgaureata from Paisley; I have only five virgaureata, and they came from your side of the border.” Feeling perfectly convinced that it was in no way allied to virgaureata, | again most closely examined them, and at last got a key-note ; and that is the hind marginal whitish line apparent in some of the specimens, and tolerably clear, but in others much obscured. When this line was contrasted to the same line in E. castigata, it was evident it was to this species that the Paisley ‘“‘pug”’ belonged. I reset all to same model, for convenience of examination, and with a series of each, arranged in parallel columns of satyrata, the Paisley “‘pug,” and virgaureata, it was clear that the puzzle was unravelled. The discoidal spot and the hind marginal very zigzag whitish line, when present, is distinctly shown on all the wings, both above and beneath; the neuration and contour of castigata and the Paisley insect are identical. That being so, I had no hesitation to re-exhibit them under their proper name at the South London Entomological Society on the 14th inst. My friend Mr. C. G. Barrett was disposed to accept my deter- mination, but wished an opportunity of a daylight examination, and to that end he had my series to take home; and I may now say that Mr. Barrett agrees with me absolutely that the Paisley insect 1s Hupithecta castigata var. I will not give ita varictal name, as, to my way of thinking, we have far too many named varieties already. Greenwich, Jan. 20, 1892, 45 ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES, CAPTURES, &c. RED MARKINGS ON PaPILio MACHAON AND P. xutaus.—With reference to Mr. Jenner Weir and Mr. Bowles’ articles on the above subject (vide Entom. xxiv. pp. 105 and 130), I may mention that amongst 22 P. machaon and 16 P. xuthus in my Japanese collection, only one, viz., a female of P. machaon, has any trace of red in the first submarginal lunule of the lower wing (upper side). Two of P. vuthus are without any traces of red, even in the seventh lunule at the anal angle; eleven show it but slightly, whereas in the remaining three almost the whole lunule is orange-red. Nine males of P. machaon show no trace of red in the sixth lunule, nine males and two females show it slightly, one female shows it very strongly, while in the remaining female the sixth lunule is almost entirely suffused with black. The less red there is in the anal angle lunule of the above-mentioned specimens of P. authus, the more the yellow in the fifth lunule is prolonged into the tail—T. E. Sansom; Yokohama. Puezism or Java Burrerriies.— Mr. Jenner Weir (Entom. xxiv. 226) suggests that there may be some connection between the murkiness of the atmosphere in Java and. the duskiness of butterflies from there compared with the same species from elsewhere. That, however, cannot be the reason, as, for climate and scenery, the mountainous interior of Java is probably unequalled in the tropical world. I believe, however, the damp- ness of the air may be the reason, and it would be interesting to see series of the same species taken on the coast plains, and at various elevations and distances from mountain summits. Near high mountains a heavy thunderstorm takes place almost every afternoon, whereas a few miles away there may not be a storm for several days, and of course the plains have regular dry seasons and (as this year) may be almost rainless for months. Doubtless most collections from Java have been made amongst the mountains, as far more species occur there than are found on the plains ; but although the atmosphere up there is excessively damp, the greater part of the day is usually very bright and clear.—T. EK. Sansom; Yokohama. ABERRATIONS OF VANESSA ANTIOPA.— Mr. South (Iintom. xxii. 219) quotes Maynard’s observations from ‘ Butterflies of New England’ on Vanessa antiopa var. hygiea, Heyd. Having in my possession two speci- mens of aberrations bred in 1888, by my nephew William Weruer, of Biedenkopf, Germany, which differ from the above, it may be of interest if I give descriptions of them. In specimen No. 1 the yellow border on the primaries broadens out and extends near the tip to the second costal spot, which it absorbs, as well as the usual submarginal dark band and blue spots, with the exception of one, which is, however, absent on the left wing. The secondaries are normal. In specimen No. 2 the first costal spot on the primaries is entirely missing; but the border expands con- siderably at the tip, and includes the second costal spot ; thence it descends, completely obliterating the dark band and blue spots on both wings, of which not a trace is visible, The yellow border in both specimens is thickly sprinkled with black dots, which form a smoky blackish patch on the angular extremity at the tip. The measurement in the centre of the border on either wings is fully three-eighths of an inch. The ground colour in both specimens is the ordinary rich brown. On the under side 44 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. the border of specimen No. 2 is decidedly narrower, white, and strongly suffused with black, a smoky streak passing through the middle, whilst the margin towards the inner side is very indistinctly defined.—J. JAcER; 180, Kensington-park Road, Notting Hill, January, 1892. GREEN AND Brown-coLouRED Pup& or Papitio PoDALIRIUS.—I was sent last June a dozen eggs of P. podalirius, which 1 fed up during June and July on sloe. In July eight successfully turned into pup, four of which were of a light green colour, and four the ordinary light brown. The green ones all produced perfect specimens in August, but I still have the brown in pup. Is this always the case, or is it only a coincidence that the green should emerge and not the brown ? — J. Lewis Bonnore; C/o Rev. W. D. Bushell, Harrow. CurE FoR THE RavacGes oF THE Larva or N. ripysiu. — Whilst paying a visit to a friend in Somerset last week, he informed me that he never remembered the larvee of the sawfly, N. ribesit, so numerous as they were last season. In his garden they swarmed on both gooseberry and currant, completely stripping some of the bushes of their leaves. He found the following remedy so instantaneously effectual, that perhaps some of your readers may be glad to know of it:—1 tablespoonful of fir-tree oil in 1 gallon of water (same proportion as for aphis); syringe; the larva, on being touched with the liquid, falls, and almost instantly dies. — JoHN N. Stitt; Seaton, Devon. Larv#-BEATING IN Eppine Forest.— During the past season of 1891, many kinds of lrve were abundant throughout the Forest. Several species which are generally very scarce were fairly plentiful. On 4th July I beat out a larva of Thecla betule near High Beach, from which I bred a fine female specimen on 11th August. ‘This species has been taken freely in various parts of the Forest on sloe. The great feature of the year was the occurrence of Stauropus fagi in Monk Wood. On Sept. 5th I beat one from oak, and on the 12th ot the same month I obtained two more, one from oak and the other from beech; at least a dozen other larve of this species were found in the same locality; and the fine beech trees in Mouk Wood also yielded an unusually large number of H. prasinana, D. corylt, D. pudibunda, EF. linearia, &c. Other kinds, such as NV. ziezac, N. camelina, D. furcula, &e., were also freely distributed. Thus it is evident that the severe weather has in no way diminished the number of larve, but has probably destroyed many of the deadly parasites that prey upon them. Also it would appear that the entomological resources ot Epping Forest are far from exhausted yet—C. B. SmivH; 24, Rectory Road, Stoke Newing- ton, N., January 1, 1892. COLEOPHORA METALLICELLA, n.s.—F or twenty years I have had a species of Coleophora under the name of metallicella in my cabinet, and have felt convinced all the time that it was quite distinct from either C. nigricella or C. fuscedinella. From both these species it differs in the following respects :—Firstly, it is of a bronzy lightish green colour; the scales are larger and more raised, and the insect has a more muscular appearance. In one sex the antenne are white nearly half way down, and the tips are white in both sexes; but this is not a trustworthy character, as it is subject to variation. The larva occurs in May, and is nearly a month earlier than that of C. fuscedinella, which is not found till June. How I happened to NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 45 breed C. metallicella came about in this way. For a number of years I had noticed certain white blotches on the leaves of young birches, and these I considered to be merely the work of C. fuscedinella larvee, and did not pay any attention to them until about two years ago, when I was beating for Micropteryzx, salopiella and noticed a lot of Coleophora cases, which I did not know, sticking about my umbrella. I then examined the white blotches which I had formerly despised, and found a number of these strange cases, all full grown. I took a lot of these home and kept them, apart from every- thing else, and have bred from them thirteen fine specimens of C. metalli- cella. J sent these and the cases, also my series of C. fuscedinella bred from cases on alder, and all my C. nigricella, to Dr. Wood. C. nigricella was soon disposed of, but Dr. Wood wishes to make some anatomical examinations before he expresses a definite opinion with regard to the dis- tinctness of the insect I call C. metallicella from C. fuscedinella.—J. B. Hopexinson; Ashton-on-Ribble. SUGARING IN OcToBER.—During the greater portion of October last, two of us “sugared” each night in a large garden three miles from Arundel. Insects were plentiful, and on some evenings they swarmed at the “sugar,” which consisted solely of treacle and rum. Phlogophora meticulosa, Anchocelis pistacina, and Xanthia circellaris were very abun- dant; 1 took a fine and variable series of pistacina. - The rest of our cap- tures consisted of Leucania pallens (4), Orthosia macilenta (25), O. lota (13), Anchocelis litura (9), A. rufina (4), Cerastis vaccinii and spadicea (many more of the former thau the latter), Scopelosoma satellitia (30), Xanthia fulvago (3), Xylina socia (12), aud X. ornithopus (a good series in fine condition), Agriopis aprilina (2), Plusia festuce (1 in excellent condi- tion), and P. gamma (several), Caradrina quadripunctata (2), Cidaria siterata (1), and C. immanata (4), Thera variata (2), and Eubolia cervinaria (2 caught on the wing). We also managed to secure about 400 pupe by digging during the day, among which are nearly 40 Smerinthus tilie. One pupa has produced the finest female Asteroscopus sphina 1 ever saw. My experience is that “ sugar” in October is nearly always a success, and ivy when out doubles the bag !—(Rev.) T. Szymour Sr. Jonn ; Jan. 18, 1892. Norges rrom Prymouts.—Though the weather during the past year has, on the whole, been most unfavourable to entomological pursuits, yet I think I have never found a better season for larve, which have been the chief objects of my search. The improvement on last year 1 imagine to be due to the severity of the winter; the frosts of the end of November, December, January, and the terrible blizzard of March 9th and 10th, serving the double purpose of securing the pupe for the time being and killing off their enemies, the insectivorous birds. To pass from theory to fact: January [ devoted to pupx-hunting, taking eleven Acronycta ligustri, one Hurymene dolobraria, and three larve of Arctia fuliginosa hybernating among moss. February was remarkably fine, scarcely any rain falling throughout the month; I took a few more pupe of A. ligustri, and found Cheimatobia brumata still on the wing on the 18th; Larentia multistrigata was common at the end of the month, and I took one or two Xylocampa lithorhiza at flowers of the red and white mezereon. I took Hybernia pro- gemmaria on the 17th Feb., and again on May 12th; its emergence would seem to have been interrupted by the intervening snow-storm. ‘Towards the end of March I again took H. progemmaria, and at the sallows T'enio- campa stabilis, In April, at the sallows, I took 7’, stabilis, T. gothica (very 46 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. common), 7’. cruda and T. rubricosa (fairly so), Cerastis vaccinit (one or two), Xylina petrificata (2), Selenia illunaria (a few), T. gracilis and T. instabilis (one of each), and last, but not least remarkable, Pieris rap@ (1). From sallow catkins and shoots collected about this time I bred one Xanthia cerago and numbers of X. silago; also some Orthosia lota from spun-up sallow leaves. On May 6th a full-fed larva of Cossus ligniperda was brought me, which had been dug up in a garden; it spun a cocoon of earth and bits of cork, and changed to a chrysalis. The same day Notodonta chaonia (pupa kept in cool porch) emerged ; its hind wings had in them little distended sacs, which |] opened with pin and blotting-paper. On the 9th I took Tephrosia punctulata in Bickleigh Vale, and the next day Selenia illustraria came to light. Tephrosia crepuscularia, Cidaria suffumata, Anticlea badiata, and other common Geometers occurred. On May 20th I beat two very young larvee of Pacilocampa populi (they are very dark when young), and on the 30th a larva of Trichiura crategi from blackthorn. At the beginning of June ! took seven Huelidia glyphica and one EH. mi in a field with Hesperia malve; two larve of P. populi and of T’. crategi (one of them the variety with golden rings), and one of P. cassinea, were beaten on the 10th; and on the 12th another larva of TJ. crategi, one of Pericallia syringaria, and two of Diloba c@ruleocephala (a species rare with us). I found Y. impluviata, T’. crepuscularia, and T’. punctulata at rest. During the month I beat another larva each of J’. crategi and P. populi, one Asphalia ridens (2), and one Thecla quercus; the resemblance of this larva to an un- expanded oak-bud is most striking. 1 took two Lithosia mesomella among bracken fern, one Numeria pulveraria, and found the variable Fidonia atomaria common on the 20th. On the 27th I thrashed out a male EF. dolobraria from a hedge. During July larve of Dianthecia carpophaga were common locally, D. cucubalt much scarcer, on the seeds of Silene inflata. On the 10th July Triphena fimbria was brought me. I took also Plusia chrysitis, Aplecta tincta (1) by mothing in the evening, Ellopia fasci- aria (at gas-lamp), and three or four larve of Cucullia chamomilleé on Matricaria about the middle of July. On Aug. 2nd I took a young Jarva ot Acronycta leporina on birch, and single specimens on Aug. 10th, 14th, 27th, Sept. 2nd, 18th; out of these, I regret to say, only one survived, the others dying (perhaps from overcrowding). On Aug. 6th I beat a fine larva of Notodonta trepida (which went down a day or two later), and took a fine Geometra papilionaria in Bickleigh Vale. The same day I beat Notodonta dodonea (?) larva, and obtained others on Aug. 13th, 15th, Sept. Ist, 10th and 12th. On Aug. 7th | found Plusia pulchrina at rest on a birch-leaf, and Cilia spinula on seed-vessel of Lychnis dioica; on the 8th a fine larva of Ennomos tiliaria on birch; on the 6th, 8th, 29th, larvae of Platypteryx falcula (the last on alder); on Sept. 7th and 8th, larve of P. lacertula. On Aug. 15th I took two N. dictea larve, and one of Diphthera orion, and obtained others on the 22nd (two very young), Sept. 8th (2), 10th (4), 14th (1), 16th, 1); all were beaten except the last, which was found resting on the upper surface of an oak-leaf, with its head tucked in after the manner of