30 A. E. GIBBS — XOTES ON LEPIDOPTEEA 



can "be seen of the creature's movements. The emerging of the 

 young larvse from the eggs is a point worth noting, and is always 

 full of interest. Mrs. Harrison tells me that in the case of this 

 species it appears to take from 1 minute 40 seconds to 2 minutes, 

 "^^hen hatched they devour their egg-shells very voraciously. 



Another larva, with regard to which Mrs. Harrison contributes 

 some interesting notes, is that of the gipsy -moth {Ocneria disj^ar). 

 She writes to me that she was very much struck with the 

 brilliancy of colouring of this caterpillar, especially in its early 

 stages, which, so far as she can discover, is not done justice to iu 

 the text-books. The blue-grey down its back is so rich in colour 

 as to be almost of a violet tinge ; the yellow introduced is of a 

 pure tone and very brilliant ; while the black tufts are like velvet. 

 It has altogether quite a striking and resplendent appearance. 



The Bombyces recorded by Mr. Spencer are as follows : — 

 Zithosia mesomeJIa. — Five specimens beaten from heather at Bricket 



Wood, June 16, 22, July 6. 

 Uuclielia Jacohcece. — Larvae very abundant on ragwort near "Watford 



Tunnel. 

 Drepana hinaria. — One specimen taken at electric light, August 7. 

 J), ciiltraria. — One specimen at electric light. 

 Licranura furcula. — One specimen at electric light, August 1 6. 

 Lopliopteryx camelina. — One specimen at electric light. 

 Notodonta dictceoides. — Three specimens at electric light, August 



14, 16, 17. 

 N. dromedarius. — Two specimens at electric light, August 16. 

 Thyatira derasa. — Several specimens at electric light. 



Bricket "Wood is an old locality of mine for LitJiosia mesomeUa. 

 I beat it out of the undergrowth there years ago, and I have also 

 taken it at rest on the trees in the wood. 



NocTTJ^. — Mr. Spencer contributes a valuable list of captures 

 of Noctuse. The species which he records are as follows : — 

 JDiloha cceruleocephala. — Larvae very abundant on hawthorn hedges 



near Aldenham. 

 Leiicania lithargyria. — Several specimens taken at electric light. 

 L. pallens. — Abundant at electric light. 

 Tapinostola fulva. — One specimen at electric light. 

 Calamia lutosa. — Seven specimens at electric light. 

 Gortyna ochracea. — Several at electric light. Found larva) feeding 



on the stems of thistles at Bricket "Wood and also on burdock 



in "Whippendale Wood, June 16. 

 Hydrcecia nictitans. — At sugar near The Hall, Bushey, July 27, 



August 14. 

 IT. micacia. — Four specimens at electric light, September 9. 

 Xylophasia monoglypha. — In swarms at electric light and sugar. 

 Neuronia jmpiilaris. — Fairly plentiful at electric light, August 12, 



16, September 9. 

 Charceas gramitiis. — Two specimens at electric light, August 14, 16. 



