230 THE entomologist's record. 



gonapophyses and valva, as will be seen from the accompanying rough 

 figures. 



Habitat. Northumbekland, Ovingham, 1 <? from oak, Julv, 1915. 



1. P. pedicularia <j Gonapophysis. 8. P. quercfis cT Valva. 



2. P. (luercns S ,, 4. P. livida s Gonapophysis. 



5. P. livida cT Valva. 

 X 160 (rtiiuili tiketchcs after Enderlein.) 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



The Pine Processionary Caterpillar. — Dr. Chapman's theory as 

 to the reason why the larvae of this species spin their cocoons in a 

 bunch seems plausible enough, but why should the larvfe of Aphomia 

 soridla and of the iliijiiynnmeuta group adopt a similar plan, although 

 not protected by urticating hairs? The Aphnmia is parasitic on bees 

 and wasps, but sometimes at least wanders from the nest when ready 

 to pupate, and the cocoons are clustered ; see l\nt. Mo. Ma//., March, 

 1895, and August, 1896, for two detailed accounts of this species ; also 

 Ent. Piec, February, 1896, and October, 1896, for additional notes on 

 the clustering habit. Hypnnomcuta, on the other hand, is not parasitic, 

 and the larvse spin their cocoons in company in their nest. Is it pos- 

 sible that the clustering habit deters mice in the former case and birds 

 in the latter from attacking the cocoons ? or at least serves a useful 

 purpose in making the foe too disgusted at the trouble of getting at 

 the outer pup* to persevere until it reached the inner ones ? If so the 

 inner and more numerous pupa? would always be preserved at the 

 expense of the few outer ones which were devoured. It is noteworthy 

 in this connection that the cocoons of A/ihomia are stated to be exceed- 

 ingly tough, and that the larva^ appear to possess a rudimentary pro- 

 cessionary habit in spinning together aicay fmiii the vest in ichich t/iet/ 

 fed. — -C. Nicholson, Hale End, Chingford. 



li»^OTES ON COLLECTING, Etc. 



Notes from S. Essex. — Although my collecting during the past 

 few years has practically ceased, I cannot of course pass over Lepi- 

 doptera which force themselves upon my notice. This noon I found a 

 quite fresh male specimen of lunjonia autituinaria at rest low down on 



