2 ^ [June, 



In Marcla, 1874, I received from Sir Tliomas MoncreifEe some 

 insects for determination, amongst which I found two specimens of 

 the Zelleria, which I had first seen the previous November from 

 Paisley. I wrote at once for information respecting them, and was 

 speedily favoured with the following reply to my queries : 



" Moncreiffe House, Bridge of Earne, 



''March ^\st, 1874. 



" The two specimens of the new Zelleria which I captured here were taken 

 " April 8th and May 22nd, 1873. 



" The first was beat off a thorn tree in my shrubbery ; the second I took on a 

 "rocky face about 450 feet above the sea level, where no yew trees grow within a 

 " a mile. There is, however, a very mixed vegetation in the locality, including ash, 

 " but not privet. Both specimens were taken in the day-time. I hear that the 

 " Paisley specimen was taken in that neighbourhood, in December." 



A year later I heard again of this insect : 



" Moncreiffe House, Bridge of Earne, 



"April nth, 1875. 

 " I have lately taken two of the Zelleria, one beaten from sallow, the other off 

 " willow ; this latter specimen is a female, but I did not recognise it as this insect 

 " till after I had killed it, being different in appearance from any I had already 

 " taken. On consideration, I find that all that have been captured here were beat 

 " out of bushes in the neighbourhood of sallows, and as the sallow is not very 

 " plentiful with me, I have a notion that it may be the food-plant." 



In the course of the summer of 1875, Sir Thomas Moncreiffe 

 brought up to London several specimens of this new Zelleria for ex- 

 amination, and wrote about them as follows : 



" Moncreiffe House, Bridge of Earne, 



"July 2\st, 1875. 



" The two ticketed specimens were taken by myself, in the spring. The others 

 " were captured by Mr. Herd, at this place, from September till May, and he told 

 " me the other day that he had taken two more the beginning of this month, or cud 

 " of June, beaten out of willow. 



" My darker specimen was beaten out of yew, with sallow and willow adjacent, 

 " and the lighter coloured specimen was beaten out of willow. If all are the same 

 " insect, the dates of capture are curious. The last week in June or first week in 

 " July can scai'cely be the dates for hibernated specimens. 



I now leave the matter in the hands of other observers, in the hope 

 that before long the entire history of the species may be known. 



Mountsfield, Lewisham, S.E. : 

 May \Qth, 1876. 



