158 THE entomologist's record. 



Habits of a brood op Noctua rubi. — From a batch of ova 

 olitaiucd from a $ A\ rubi last June, I bred several moths in the 

 autumn. The remaining larvae hybernated and moths are now emerg- 

 ing-, whilst some of the larvje are still feeding. No attempt Avas made 

 to force any of these. — (Rev.) C. D. Ash, B.A., F.E.S., Skipwith 

 Vicarage, Selby. May 2nd, 1898. 



Notes on the habits of the lakv.e of Xylophasia scolopacina. — 

 Though I have always been assured by those who have regularly 

 worked for the larva of the above species, that it is only to be found 

 by night, I felt convinced in my own mind that the cause of its 

 being so frightfully ichneumoned must be traced to its resting exposed 

 by day. On the 14th May last I was able to prove that my surmise 

 was correct, for I found the larvfe resting as at night on the very top 

 of the grass culms. While searching thus, I was delighted to dis- 

 cover the head of a larva protruding from a hole in a grass stem, and 

 shortly afterwards saw another issue from a similar hole. This, I 

 think, places beyond all doubt the fact that in its earlier stages it is 

 an internal feeder. I felt sure it must be so, as we never find larvfe 

 until they have attained nearly half-an-inch in length, by which time 

 their quarters in these small stems must be getting somewhat re- 

 stricted. Possibly all this is "ancient history," but I have never 

 come across its life-history in any works to which I have had access. 

 I hope this autumn to be able to ascertain when the egg is deposited, 

 and in what stage it passes the winter. —(Colonel) Chas. E. Partridge, 

 20, Hornsey Rise Gardens, N. 



Eggs of Lepidoptera. — Crovallu eUni/uaria. — The eggs are large, 

 laid singly on long side, and almost brick shaped. Length : breadth : 

 height : : 4 : 3 : 1. There is a shallow depression occupying the 

 greater part of the upper surface. The egg-shell of the newly-laid egg 

 is shiny, and the egg appears (under the lens) of a pearly white colour, 

 with irregular greenish-grey shading. The micropylar end contains an 

 oval greenish depression, occupying almost the whole of that end, the 

 shell forming a slightly raised white rim around the depression. On 

 this rim, and for some distance over the shoulder, are traces of very 

 fine longitudinal reticulation, which becomes less distinct as it reaches 

 farther down the egg (i.e., recedes from the micropylar end) . Two eggs 

 out of IG are laid edgewise (not on the end that forms the nadir of the 

 micropyle). [Described August 8th, from eggs obtained from a 2 

 captured at Lanslebourg.] By August 15th, the eggs had become of a 

 pale purplish-white colour, with darker purple markings occupying 

 the originally greenish areas. The longitudinal ribbing is still very 

 indistinct. — J. W. Tutt. 



Jl^EVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



Books from the American Masters. 



When we took up the three books mentioned below, and were 

 about to write a short review of each of them, it struck us whether 

 entomologists in England ever gave our American friends full credit 

 for the enormous work they have done, and still do, This aspect of 



