undoubtedly admit of better arrangement, and ought properly to be broken up into several stirpes of equal value with the other seven. The genus Zygæna cannot possibly, in any natural arrangement, be widely separated from Chalcosia, Procris, &c., either by the characters of the larva or imago; and these genera, along with Erasmia, Campylotes, Eterusia, Pintia, Soritia, Herpa, &c., undoubtedly form a natural stirps or family by themselves, distinct from Syntomis, Glaucopis and Euchromia, the latter of which approaches more nearly to the Chelonidæ, with which it is connected by means of some American genera, such as Lophocampa. Atteva Brucea, which

is included in this stirps (page 300) belongs to the Tineina, and probably to the family Yponomeutidæ, as the accompanying sketch of its wing-venation, added to its other characters, will sufficiently show.

Stirps III. is a compound of the Chelonidæ, and a group of insects which Mr. Walker, in the British Museum 'Catalogue,' has associated with the Liparidæ, but which appears to me to belong to neither of these groups, but to form a separate and independent family, connecting the Liparida and Lasiocampida with the Attacidæ, and for which I would suggest the name of Daralidæ. They are robust, woolly insects, with broad, substantial wings, densely clothed with scales both above and below, having much the aspect of some of the aberrant Attacidae, which they approach to some extent in the venation of the wings; but they possess the connecting bristle at the base of the under wings, which prevents their being associated with either the Attacidae or Lasiocampidæ, while the character of their transformations will equally prevent them from being merged in the Liparidæ. There is, however, considerable diversity of structure among the species in Mr. Walker's genera; and it is quite possible that some of the insects in question, such as Tagora amæna, which wants the bristle, may truly belong to the Lasiocampida, to which family their transformations closely approximate.

Duddingston, Edinburgh,

December 4, 1860.

R. F. LOGAN.

Rate of Speed of Flight of a Butterfly.—Mr. Horne's calculation of butterfly speed (Zool. 7280), astonishing as it is, conveys but an imperfect idea of the actual

distance traversed within the hour by the painted lady; for, taking into account the zigzag order of flight, which it doubtless maintains by sea as well as by land, it must have been winging its way at the rate of some fourteen or fifteen statute miles per hour, and that, too, against a head wind; for he says “It readily overtook the steamer, which was then making 10 knots an hour. The wind was nearly ahead, and tolerably strong." My object in directing attention to this statement is to suggest that there must be some mistake with regard to the direction or force of the wind; for, considering what a slight and fragile insect the butterfly is, and its immense expanse of wing, our wonder is increased to amazement on hearing that it not only made head against adverse winds, but outstripped a fast boat like the 'Pera.'-H. Hadfield; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, December 1, 1860.

Interesting Fact in the Economy of the Genus Colias. - Mr. C. S. Gregson, of Stanley, Liverpool, the talented Secretary of the Northern Entomological Society, has discovered that the females of the genus Colias lay their eggs " in the seeds of clover, and especially lucerne," and are thus imported from the Continent. This is the only instance hitherto discovered of a butterfly laying its eggs either in or on the seed of a plant; and as the pod of both the species of Leguminosæ mentioned is extremely hard and wood-like, it is very difficult to conceive how the egg can be introduced through this natural envelope. In this country our two species of Colias only frequent the clover and lucerne when in blossom, so that their economy would appear to be different on the two sides of the Channel. Mr. Gregson's most important statement is communicated incidentally at page 55 of the Intelligencer.'-Edward Newman.

On the Habits of Bombyx Calluna. - Both Mr. Stainton and Mr. Newman describe this insect as a variety of Bombyx Quercus. The following is my description of B. Callunæ, from personal observation: B. Callunæ is found in profusion on Greetland Moor, near Halifax. Male 2 to 21; rich dark mahogany-brown, the fore wings having a broad, transverse, semicircular bar in the middle of the wing, of a bright fulvous colour; this bar is most distinct throughout, one-eighth of an inch broad, tapering from the front; midway between the bar and the body is a white spot, surrounded with a dark ring: the fulvous bar extends across the under wing, which also possesses a margin, of the same breadth and colour: the body and head are dark above, but lighter underneath. Female 3 to 3; of lighter colour than the male, the bar being of the same colour as in the male, but having a narrower margin on the under wing; the bar is not shown underneath the wings, each wing being half dark and half the colour of the bar on the under side.

Caterpillar.Natural food heath,

It is large when full grown, being

but will thrive on whitethorn and mountain ash. 34 inches in length; when young it is smooth, and of the dark colour of the male insect; after the first and second changes its colour is somewhat lighter, and after the third change of skin the ground-colour assumes a beautiful velvet-black, which is observed between each double segment, whilst the latter are covered with short hairs of the fulvous colour of the bar in the imago; a few straggling long dark hairs, tipped with white, spring up over the downy segments, and along each side of the caterpillar is a whitish waving line interspersed with gray spots; the ground-colour of the downy segments is dappled gray; a row of pure white oval spots appear in the centre of each black segment along each side, the largest being on the segment near the head, and gradually decreasing in size. The under side of the body is greenish yellow. Pupa elongated egg-shaped, of a gray-brown colour, very compact, and surrounded by a soft web-like cocoon, and found on the surface of the moor, attached to the base of

heath. Egg. The female never flies until after copulation or depositing her eggs, which she lays around the stems of the food-plant, in May and June. The larvæ emerge in from fourteen to twenty-one days, feed during the summer and autumn, undergo three changes, and then descend to the roots of heath, where they spin a slight web, and so continue during the winter months. In the following spring they again come forth, and feed during the summer, undergoing three or four further changes of skin, and make up into pupæ during August and September. Imago.-In May and June of the subsequent year the perfect insect comes forth. The females of B. Calluna possess the peculiar power of attracting the male, which is a characteristic of this family; by this means numbers of males are captured. W. Shipston (in the Intelligencer'); 3, Lower Brunswick Street, Halifax, November 14, 1860.

Description of the Larva of Epione advenaria.—Eggs laid June 23. Oval; yellow, changing to red and then smoky. Hatched July 10: tried the larvæ with several plants; at last they began to feed on rose: afterwards procured bilberry for them, which they refused. The bilberry does not grow in the wood where the perfect insects are taken, but the common white burnet-rose abounds. At first dark brown, nearly black, with four white bands, having a granulated appearance; head black and white. After first moult dull purplish brown, with yellowish white spots (two near dorsal line the longest and most conspicuous), nearly forming a band on front of 6th segment; two similarly coloured spots on 12th segment, and an undulated lateral line of same colour, broadest behind, where it is mixed with the ground-colour, as that also is freckled with yellowish; head dull black, with two yellowish streaks. Full fed darker, especially towards the head, marbled with gray; whitish marks as before, but less conspicuous. Went into pupa among moss drawn together by a few threads, October 30. I always fed it with a smooth-leafed rose growing in the garden, as nearly like the wood-rose as I could find, and it always ate freely. It will be seen by comparing the dates that it was a long time in the larva state. I have tried the wood where the perfect insect is taken for the larva, but in vain.-E. Horton (in the Intelligencer'); Wick, Worcester.

Description of the Larva of Odontopera bidentata.- A true Geometer, but having eight claspers, the usual pairs on the 10th and 13th segments, and a pair each on the 8th and 9th segments; these last are perfectly formed in every respect, but are extremely small, and totally useless in walking: the 12th segment is slightly humped, the swollen portion crowned with two small warts, and there is a narrow oblique velvety ridge, on each side of the 12th segment, leading towards these warts: the head is decidedly but not deeply notched on the crown: the body is a good deal wrinkled transversely, and is of a dull brown colour inclining to purple, with scarcely any shading or variety of colour. I beat a considerable number of these larvæ from birch at the end of September, and on the 2nd of October they ceased eating, and, hiding themselves in moss, changed to pupa with scarcely any cocoon.- E. Newman.

Description of the Larva of Iodis lactearia. — Body extremely long and slender: posture when at rest straight or curved, not uniformly the same. Head prone, with the mouth bent under, the crown deeply divided, terminating in two sharp lobes; pale brown: 2nd segment bearing two sharp-pointed approximate humps on the back; none of the other segments bear either warts or humps: body pale delicate green, with a dull red median spot, laterally bordered with yellow, on the interstices between the segments following the 3rd. Feeds on oak: full fed September 16th to October 12th. Spins a few threads across the leaves of its food-plant, and turns into a pupa in the home thus formed: it remains in the pupa state all the winter.-Id.

Occurrence of Cidaria reticulata in the Lake District. Three specimens of this pretty and very distinct species were taken in August, 1856, on the border of one of the Lakes, by my friend Thomas H. Allis, who requested me to send a notice of its capture for insertion in the 'Zoologist.' Cidaria reticulata is not common anywhere; according to Guenée it is found in the Swiss Alps, Pyrenees, Hungary and the South of Russia. The larva is unknown, but probably feeds upon Epilobium, like that of C. silaceata, the species most nearly allied to C. reticulata.—Henry Doubleday; Epping, January 14, 1861.

Description of the Larva of Anticlea berberata. — Rests in a slightly bent posture; frequently falls when touched, and when on the ground wriggles somewhat in the manner of a Tortrix larva. Colour dingy gray-green approaching to brown. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments have a median black stripe, that on the 4th extending only half the length of the segment; the 10th, 11th and 12th segments have also a median black stripe, but less distinct; the dorsal surface of the segments intervening between the 4th and 10th is mottled with shades of gray, dingy green and brown: the belly is striped longitudinally, the median stripe having several darker blotches, and just before the anterior pair of claspers is a large space conspicuously darker. Feeds on Galium verum (lady's bedstraw), and is full fed about the 10th of July. I am indebted to Mr. Smithson for this larva.-E. Newman.

On the Economy of Epunda lichenea.-The ova, which are deposited about the beginning of October, hatch early in November; the larvæ remain very small during the winter, and are mostly hid amongst roots of grass. About the beginning of January they begin to show out by night, and to feed very ravenously on groundsel, &c., and to grow very fast. They are of a green colour, the spiracular line whitish they still retain the green colour after several moults, when they appear in a mottled olive suit. When young they repose in the position of Sphinx Ligustri, with their head and fore legs erect, on the stems of dry grass; they will feed very ravenously on groundsel, and thrive on it well; but as the spring advances I feed them on chickweed, dock, dandelion, scabious, burnet, &c.: they feed on until May, when they assume the pupa state; I never had any remain in the larva state until June, although Merrin's 'Calendar,' in July, p. 74, says, "E. lichenea. Ragwort, foxglove, &c." I never, out of many dozens, during two or three years' experience of rearing them, saw any above the surface after May. I do not by any means think them a tender larva to rear; I have during the last two or three years reared about three-fifths of them on an average. They form a cocoon of a web-like texture, mixed with the earth; the pupæ are rather blunt at the ends: they generally lie in that state for about four months, and in September emerge. My method of rearing them is this: in a clear wide-mouthed glass bottle I put the ova, also a piece of white paper, and cover over the top of the bottle with a fine piece of gauze, so that when the larvæ hatch I can see them creep on the paper; I then put in some dry stems of fine grass and a small leaf of groundsel, so that there should not be too much refuse left; they soon leave their food and creep on the fine grass to repose, and I then remove the refuse: every evening I put in fresh food, and always remove what they leave; but after awhile, when they improve in size, I remove them to a medium-sized flower-pot, half filled with loose mould and pieces of turfy grass, under which they generally hide by day, and at night they come out to feed, when I put them in some fresh in clearing out the refuse care must be taken not to throw away any of the larvæ which may be hid in it. By following these instructions I think there would be no difficulty

VOL. XIX.

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in rearing these larvæ: they will breed freely in confinement, as I have tried them several times and always with success.-J. S. Dell (in the Intelligencer.')

Dianthecia capsophila in Cumberland. At a meeting of the Historic Society, held at St. George's Hall, Mr. C. S. Gregson exhibited Dianthœcia capsophila, Gn., a species new to England. The specimens were captured by J. T. Tiltman, Esq., and J. Nicholson, Esq., of Whitehaven, on the coast of Cumberland. Mr. Gregson gave an original account of this description of insects.-Liverpool Paper.

[Has Mr. Gregson submitted his specimens to the inspection of any entomologist capable of deciding on the species? A specimen from this supposed new habitat has been brought to London, and is decidedly Dianthœcia capsincola. I should like to see Mr. Gregson's specimens, if convenient to him to send them.-E. Newman.]

Occurrence of Sophronia emortualis near Henley. — About the 12th of last July I took a fine female specimen of this insect. It has a predilection for sweets, for I took it in company with other sugar-loving Deltoides and Pyralides. Its colour is a light yellowish olive, dusted with numerous small black spots. A figure of this insect in Wood's Index Entomologicus' (first edition, pl. 27, fig. 768) will give a tolerable idea of its colour, though of little else. The first line seems not to be continued on the under wing. There is a crescent-shaped yellowish marking on the under wing, about half-way between the base and the tip of the wing, but it does not appear to rise on the costa, and it distinctly ceases before it reaches the middle of the wing; besides, it is in a different direction to the line on the upper wing, and if continued to the inner margin it would strike the second line. I have examined, by the aid of a common magnifying-glass, what seems to be "the posterior margin of the reniform stigma," of which Mr. Cooke speaks; but I cannot trace the rest of the marking of the stigma; and there only appears a yellowish crescent-shaped marking, which corresponds exactly with that on the under wing.— B. H. Birks (in the Intelligencer'); Stonor, Henley-on-Thames; October 17, 1860.

Re-appearance? of Agrophila sulphuralis in Norfolk. I have to announce the capture of ten specimens of A. sulphuralis this year in Norfolk. I took them all in the last week of July and the first week of August, in very good condition, flying over a hedge of Scotch fir. I took nine of them in one place, but the other I caught nearly two miles off. I should have caught several more if it had not been for the bad weather.' Intelligencer,' November 3, 1860.

[Is this reliable? Who is the captor? What is a hedge of Scotch fir?- Edward Newman.]

Description of the Larva of Chloëophora prasinana.— Does not roll in a ring or feign death when disturbed: smooth, cylindrical; 11th, 12th and 13th segments rapidly attenuated; the anal claspers long and spreading; all the claspers broad at the disks. Head rather large, pale green, opaque, unspotted: body yellow-green; a yellow ring just behind the head: a median double series of yellow dots disposed symmetrically: on each side below this series is a direct slender yellow stripe; and again, below this on each side are several series of yellow dots symmetrically arranged, and there is a very distinct but slender pink line on the last pair of claspers. Feeds on oak, birch or beech: it is full fed on the 18th of September, and spins a boat-shaped cocoon on the back of a leaf: when the leaf falls this little domicile of the future moth is carried by the wind hither and thither, without ever losing its attachment, until the leaf finds its winter resting-place on the ground, and there the pupa remains, still enclosed in its little yellow silken boat, until the second or third week in June, when the perfect