110 



T.IST OF LFTIDOPTRRA. 



for 1856. I have twice succeeded in getting this insect to pair in confinement, 

 but it ia very seldom that it will do so. I have not been able to visit its 

 favourite locality for the last two years. (C.) 



60. JV. carmelita. — One larva, which however unhappily died. It is curious 

 that, though generally very successful in finding the pupae of this genus, I 

 never succeeded in meeting with one of this species. 



61. 2V. Dlctceoides. — Very scarce. A few beaten larva; from birch, but none 

 bred. It has been asserted that the larva of this species sometimes feeds on 

 poplar, and that of Dictcea occasionally on birch. Here I have no hesitation in 

 speaking positively. I do not believe that Dictcea was ever taken off birch, or 

 Dictceoides off poplar. It is just possible that they may be made to feed on 

 those trees, though I strongly doubt it. It is well known that the larva of 

 Dictcea is often of a reddish brown colour, and that it constantly assumes 

 that appearance just before becoming a pupa. Should then the tyro find one 

 of these dark-coloured specimens, he might easily mistake it, as I myself 

 once did, for Dictceoides, and say that he had taken it off poplar. It is very 

 probable also, that he would not be undeceived even by breeding it, the two 

 species being so very similar in the perfect state. This seems to me a simple 

 and satisfactory explanation of what I have no doubt is an error. It is well 

 deserving of notice, that these two insects generally emerge from the pupa 

 very late at night, or early in the morning, and unless the collector be at 

 hand, they will inevitably spoil themselves, as they begin to fly almost imme- 

 diately after the wings become strong, and frantically batter themselves against 

 the sides of the cage. 



N. B. — The larva of this insect, as far as my experience goes, feeds exclusively 

 upon birch. M. Duponchel mentions alder as a food-plant. This may be the 

 case sometimes, but in Derbyshire, where this larva is in some seasons not 

 very uncommon, and where birch and alder grow freely intermixed, I never 

 beat a single larva off the latter tree. The following description was taken 

 from a full-fed larva in 1856: — "Length, about two inches ; back, deep purplish 

 brown, darker in the middle — very glossy. On each side a broad yellow 

 stripe containing the spiracles, which are black with a white marginal ring; 

 on the anal segment a rugose horse-shoe plate. Head, minutely spotted with 

 white, and having two dark parallel lines running down the centre; immediately 

 behind the head a pale bluish transverse bar, succeeded by a black one. 

 Belly, greenish yellow, with a broad purple stripe on either side; anal seg- 

 ment and dorsal protuberance studded with a few scattered hairs. Hubner, 

 "Westwood, and Bennie, have figured and described the larva; of Dictcea by 

 mistake for this species. I have taken the larva full fed in July, and again 

 in September and October. The perfect insect I have taken twice, once at 

 rest on the bole of a birch, just emerged from the pupa, at about three 

 o'clock, p.m., May 11th; and the other in July, by placing a light at my 

 bed-room window. It appears to be double-brooded; I have not yet been 

 able to try the experiment, but M. Duponchel remarks: — "It (the larva) is 

 found at the same time as that of Dictcea, that is to say in June and 

 September; it perfects its transformation in the same manner." — "Se trouve 

 aux m&mes epoques que celle de la Dictcea, c'est a dire on Juin et Septembre; 



