02 [August, 



Further notes on Lycaena Arr/iulus. — By way of supplement to ruy account of 

 this species in tlie last 'No., may be mentioned further variations of the larva, which 

 occurred amongst a recent brood, reared from eggs, and since brought successfully 

 through to the pupa state, both by Mr. Hellins and myself. 



Several individuals were olive-green, strongly marked with crimson on the dorsal 

 region and along the sides, and deeply suffused with this colour on the thoracic 

 segments, while in the midst of this suffusion there appeared a pale yellowish-olive 

 serai-lunar patch, situated transversely on the back at the hinder part of the second 

 segment. 



Another variety was coloured with deep rose-pink on the three thoracic and the 

 last three segments, while the middle segments of the body were light green. 



The plain green varieties included individuals of gi-eenish-yellow and others 

 olive-green. 



Some further enlightenment as regards the food of this species has been given 

 me by Mr. Gr. F. Matliew, E.N., who kindly informs me that, on the 22nd of last 

 June, some flowers of Escallonia were brought to him to look at, when on one of 

 them was detected a larva of Argiolus, about a quarter grown. 



No doubt, other food also will be found to have nourished this species, and 

 thus a good deal of the old puzzle as to the appearance of the butterfly in localities 

 where no holly grew is done away with. — William Buckler, Emsworth : July, 1876. 



Description of the larva, ^c, of Miana fasciuncula. — For many years, tliis larva 

 eluded all my attempts to find it, until I was befriended by the chance visit of a 

 female moth to a small pot of Aira caispitosa, which, for two years or more, had been 

 standing in an upper window, generally open in fine weather ; on this grass, she was 

 obliging enough, some time in 1874, to deposit an egg, and in no other way could 

 my good luck have occurred, as the pot of grass had not been used for anything 

 during the year, but was kept in reserve against the possibility of being wanted at 

 any time. 



While watering the grass on the 23rd of April, 1875, 1 was surprised to see 

 some of the blades much eaten, apparently by a lepidopterous lai-va ; this set nic 

 8:)arching, and at length I detected the larva cunningly hidden in the dry sheath of 

 a stem which was drawn round it with a few threads just at the axil of a green 

 blade, the greater part of the grass being dry ; I saw at once this larva was that of a 

 3Iiana, but one I had not before seen ; and, as it seemed nearly full fed, I figured 

 it next day, and tended it carefully. 



It continued to feed very well till the 1st of May, and, on the 2nd, while about 

 to supply earth to its cage, I found it had already spun itself up in a light silken 

 cocoon, under three pieces of the grass, and attached firmly to the bottom of its 

 cage. The moth, a male, emerged on June the 2nd. 



The length of the larva was nearly | of an inch ; it was slender and cylindrical, 

 though tapering from the third segment to the head, which is small and rather 

 flattened, tapering also a little from the eleventh to the end of the thirteenth 

 segment. The skin is of tough consistence, finely and conspicuously wrinkled 

 transverseh', and rather glistening ; the shining head is of a light brown colour, 

 rlarker brown at the mouth ; there is a light bi'own shining plate on the second 



