OBSERVED m nERTFORDSHTRE. 195 



lichen-covered tree-tnuik, tlius affording it protection from its 

 enemies. 



The Early Thorn {Selenia hilimaria). — On the 1st of May I 

 took a female of the early thorn flying lazily on Bernard's 

 Heath. She laid about a dozen eggs in the box in which I placed 

 her. These hatched on the 22nd of that month, and I succeeded 

 in rearing them. The first perfect insect emerged from the 

 chrysalis on July 18th. This is a double-brooded moth, the first 

 brood appearing early in the spring, and the second at the end of 

 summer. The female I caught belonged to the spring brood, and 

 her progeny became the second brood of the year, with the 

 exception of one specimen which remained in the pupa state till 

 February 1st of the present year (1893), when it emerged. This 

 is, I think, a rather interesting fact, and I should like to know if 

 other observers have noticed a similar thing. It shows that the 

 generations of these double-brooded moths are not always alternate. 

 This specimen was a male, and, as with most insects which have 

 remained long in the chrysalis state, the markings are rather darker 

 and richer than on those which hatched in the autumn. I pre- 

 served one of this batch of larvae which I am able to show. I fed 

 them on plum leaves. 



Other Moths. — Mr. F. M. Campbell, F.L.S., reports that on 

 August 21st, 1891, he found in his garden at Eose Hill, Hoddesdon, 

 a mature larva of the alder-moth [Acroni/cta alni) on some fresh- 

 turned mould under a lime tree. Mr. Cutts was also fortunate 

 enough to take an imago on a fence in Nascot Wood Road, Watford, 

 last summer. The occurrence of this rare moth is worth more 

 than the passing note I am able to devote to it, for I believe that 

 it has never previously been recorded from Hertfordshire. 



Mr. E.. Dymond reports to me the capture of the speckled foot- 

 man [Beiopeia jjidchella) at Southgate last year. So far as I am 

 aware, this pretty moth, also, has never been taken before in our 

 county, and it is therefore another addition to our fauna. 



When at Hitchin last autumn Mr. H. Gatward showed to me 

 a drawing of the caterpillar of the swordgrass-moth ( Calocamj)a 

 exoleta) and the imago which resulted from it. He has been good 

 enough to send the drawing to me for exhibition. The larva was 

 found upon lavender by Mr. F. Ransom, in his garden, and he sent 

 it to Mr. Gatward. It continued to feed for a week, and on 

 August 9th buried itself. The moth appeared on October 8th. 

 The usual food-plants of this moth are the devil' s-bit scabioiis, the 

 catch-fly, and the rest-harrow. Mr. A. F. Grifiith also reports 

 having taken the larva of this moth on the banks of the Midland 

 Railway, near Sandridge, feeding on Heracleum. To Mr. Gatward 

 I am also indebted for a drawing (exhibited) of the larva of the 

 broom-moth, feeding upon knapweed. 



Mr. Latchmore informs me that the mullein-moth {Cumllia 

 verlasci) is very common in the larva state at Hitchin. It is 

 generally taken on tine mullein plants grown in gardens, where it 



