260 NOTES ON LBPIDOPTERA. 



Argynnis Acjlaxa flitted about in the same localities in countless numbers. 

 This periodical appearance of these insects — periodical at least in respect of 

 numbers, is a curious subject of inquiry; a question however which we suspect 

 is more easily raised than satisfactorily answered. 



Macroglossa stellatarum, as a native of this district, is by no means common. 

 The larva may be occasionally met with feeding in company with that of 

 JD. Porccllus on Galium verum, generally not far from the coast: we have 

 found however much difficulty in rearing the species. 



Besides the specimen of Deilephila Livornica in our cabinet, which we 

 formerly mentioned under the name of lincata, as having been captured near 

 Glasgow, a second specimen was taken in a garden in the spring of this year, 

 near Falkirk: that it had survived the winter was evident from its much 

 faded condition and time of appearance. These captures almost induce the 

 idea that the species is not a straggling visitant merely, but really indigenous 

 to this district of the country. 



Several additional species of Bomhycidce have recently occurred, which we 

 gladly rank amongst oui* district fauna. Of these perhaps the most interesting 

 is Dasychira fascelina, an insect not very uncommon in the larva state in 

 several localities near the Frith of Clyde. We have also received specimens 

 from Fifeshire and elsewhere. The caterpillar of this species has always 

 been with us an object of much admiration, from its rich tufted livery. It 

 has been no less a favourite too, with entomological iconographists, if we may 

 judge from the numerous figures which we met with whilst tracing out the 

 original descriptions of the species in the works of the older entomologists, 

 from the rough wood-cuts of Moufet down to the beautiful delineations of 

 Sepp, in those admirable plates of the insects of the low countries. 



Episema cceruleocephala is far from rare in many localities in this district. 



Clostera reclusa has also occurred lately • in its previously known locality- 

 near the Frith of Clyde. 



Ccrura furcula has occurred in this part of the country in considerable 

 numbers during this past summer. We have in our cabinet a somewhat 

 lengthy series, exhibiting all shades of variety in the dark bands of the fore 

 wings; the first nervure of the hind wings in the male appears always to be 

 slightly, whilst in the female it is more or less deeply, forked; the only 

 exception to this rule which we have yet met with in our district specimens, 

 is that of a very dark variety of a female with the first neuratiou of the 

 hind wings simple. 



Drepana falcataria, as a Scottish species is scarce, but has occurred spar- 

 ingly in Fifeshire, and elsewhere. 



Some few species of Nbduce have recently come under our notice, which 

 appear to be very generally distributed over the west of Scotland. Such are 

 N. Futris, deixtina, Menyanlhidisj and reniyera; the latter, which we take to 

 be N. cataleuca of some authors, is generally found in rocky glens, etc.; the 

 neighbourhood of Campsic and the Isle of Arran may be mentioned as localities. 



