NOTES ON THE GENITAL ARMATURE. 7 



netted of Nisoniades tar/es — two just out, and obviously of a second 

 brood. Aspilates (jilvaria was commoner than I have ever before seen it, 

 but Fubolia hipunctaria was decidedly scarce. A Noctna flying from 

 flower to flower in the sun proved to be Ceri(/o matiira, a habit I have 

 never before noticed in this species.* 



Through late June and Jul}', we had rooms at a farm near Ongar, 

 but although I spent many of my evenings there, travelling to town 

 each day, I had little time for Entomology. A very casual survey of 

 the district was promising and the following is a list of the more 

 interesting species noted ; Tricldura crataei/i (larvae), Miltnchrista 

 (Calliiienia) nuniata, Zeuzcra pyrina (aesculi) (very rare in ni}' experi- 

 ence away from London), Cywatophora duplarh, PluRia pidchrina, 

 Triaena (Acronicta) tridens, Orthosia siispecta, Cleoceris viininalis, 

 Petilanipa (TapiMosiola) arcuosa, Habrostola tripartita, Cidaria silaceata, 

 Eupithecia rectamiulata (black form), Acidalia emarginata, A. imitaria, 

 Mesolenca (^Melanthia) alhicillata and Ebulea crocealis. 



Diloha cacruleocephala and MalacoxoiDa [Bouiby.i^ neustria larvse 

 were abundant, and never before hare I seen so many Porthesia similis 

 [aurifiita) both in larval and perfect states. Treacle was as usual an 

 utter failure, and the greatest attractions proved to be the grasses and 

 sedges by the roadside and the American willow-herb in the woods. 

 There is a most attractive-looking treacling ground in Ongar Park 

 Wood, and I shall hope in other years to work the district more 

 thoroughly. 



The war stopped all other work, and although I had intended 

 compensating myself for the loss of a holiday by taking several odd 

 week-end trips, the anxieties of the August and September campaign 

 drove the inclination away, and I have done nothing since. Perhaps 

 during the continuation of the war, this will be a general effect and 

 lepidoptera consequently get a much-needed rest. If this be so, when 

 all is finished, and we settle down again, we shall be able to claim for 

 our own particular study, a definite good out of all the evil ; and more 

 especially so, as we have had a year of more than usual plenty as a 

 starting-point. 



" Notes on the Taxonomic Value of the Genital Armature in 

 Lepidoptera." 



By F. N. PIERCE, F.E.S. 



The following critical remarks have been suggested by a paper 

 under the above title which appeared in Part ii. of this year's Trans- 

 actions of tlic Entomolor/ical Socii'ttj of London, from the pen of Mr. G. 

 T. Bethune-Baker. 



The author's name is so well known amongst entomologists that 

 any article by him carries great weight, and when I read the title 

 " Notes on the Taxonomic value of Genital Armature in Lepidoptera," 

 I looked forward with much pleasant expectation to the perusal of the 

 text. Alas ! I cannot say that my expectations were realised, and 

 letters received from correspondents interested in genitalia revealed the 

 fact that they too found themselves unable either to understand the 



• I noticed this habit some years ago on the railway banks at Thomastown, 

 near Waterford.— H..J.T. 



