Entomological Society. 67 



telli, capite maris in lobos duos magnos conicos convergcntes pro- 

 ductis, spii'ttcnlis later alibus in membrand tenui fere inconspicuis. 

 Long. Corp. liii. 7. — Hab. Cape Palraas (D. Savage). In Mus. 

 Hope. 

 Plataspis (Cantharodes) coenosa, Westw. Supra obscura sub- 

 lutescens, opaca, nigra punctatissima, scuiello fascia indistincta 

 mediana subpallidiori, capite magno subconcavo, postice in collum 

 angustato, prothorace antice valde emarginato, lateribus rotunda- 

 tis in medio parum angulatis, pedibus subgracilibus. Long. corp. 

 lin. 8. — Hab. cum prsecedente. 



" Note on two species of Moths taken at great distances from 

 land." By W. F. Evans, Esq. 



The two insects in question were Sphinx atropos and Porthesia 

 auriflua. They were caught on board Her Majesty's Ship 'Rodney' 

 (one of the experimental squadron), which left Portsmouth on the 

 15th of July, and lost sight of land in two days ; which they never 

 saw, nor were certainly within 200 miles of, until beating up to 

 Cork in September ; and when at least forty miles off Cape Clear, 

 wind due east (or off the land), the specimen of Sphinx atropos was 

 captured on one of the topmasts. 



The specimen of Porthesia auriflua was taken from off one of the 

 boats which had been recently tarred, at about the extreme point of 

 the cruise in the Bay of Biscay, and at least 200 miles from land. 

 The sailors called the Sphinx an Irish paroquette. Great difficulty 

 was experienced in killing it, but its death was after some time 

 effected by means of creosote. 



Extracts from a letter addressed by Dr. Savage to Mr. Hope on 

 some of the insects of Cape Palmas, dated Cape Palmas, W. Africa, 

 7th March, 1845. Communicated by the Rev. F. W. Hope. 



" GoLiATHUs. — Ceratorhina frontalis and aurata feed upon a small 

 fig, the fruit of the Ficus microcarpa ; also the ciliolosa and other 

 species, of which we have several. One resembles in its habits the 

 F. Indica ; so much so, that it had obtained the common name of 

 ' Banyan-tree.' G. frontalis feeds also upon the fruit of another tree, 

 belonging to the Linnsean class Pentandria and order Monogynia ; 

 further examination of this tree, botanically, I have not had time to 

 make. Upon these fig-trees we find also the Cetonia guttata of 

 Oliv., C. marginata, the different species of black Cetoniee, green, &c., 

 feeding upon the juices of the ripe fruit. 



"I have fully established the point that the Goliathi proper feed 

 upon juices ; and all the Cetonice (especially the Goliathideous spe- 

 cies) that I have captured have been taken in the act of extracting 

 juices from fruits and plants. The tree upon which the G. Cacicus 

 is found I suppose to be a gigantic Eupatorium, from the juice of 

 the bark of which that insect, and also Cetonia guttata, derive their 

 nourishment. 



" The C guttata being found upon two different trees, feeding at 

 one time upon the juice of the bark, at another upon that of the 

 fruit, shows the manner in which its food is supplied the year round. 



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