1876.1 03 



segment and anotlu'i- on the anal flap ; all tlie rest of the body having a ground 

 colour of a pale and subdued flesh tint, rather inclining to greyish-ochreous ; the 

 dorsal stripe, of a darker tint of this colour, is Trell defined on either side by a stripe 

 of the pale ground ; next is a very broad stripe of pinkish-brown, followed by a 

 narrow stripe of the pale ground, finely edged below with pinkish-brown ; another 

 narrow stripe of the pale ground follows, and then a stripe composed of faint freckles 

 of pale pinkish-brown, beneath which come the black spiracles ; on the sides of the 

 second, third, and fourth segments are rather large brown, shining spots ; the anterior 

 legs are pinkish-brown, the other legs tipped with light brown ; a fine soft hair 

 proceeds from each of the brownish tubercular dots, which can only be seen with 

 the aid of a strong lens. 



The pupa skin is a little over f-inch in length, stout in proportion, the head 

 and thorax rounded, and of about uniform bulk to a little below the wing covers, 

 the abdomen tapering from thence to the tip, which is furnished with two diverging 

 curved points, and surrounded with a few minute bristles ; the colour, mahogany- 

 brown and glossy. — Id. 



Description of the larva of Nola alhnlalis. — Length half-an-inch when at rest, 

 longer when crawling ; ividth one-fourth the length, nearly uniform, thus giving the 

 larva a short and stout appearance. Ground colour of two very distinct varieties : 

 1, pale yellowish-green ; 2, bright orange. Tubercles six, raised, on each segment, 

 forming two rows on the dorsal area and two rows on each side, usually of the ground 

 colour, but an intermediate variety of the jDale yellowish-green larva occurs with the 

 tubercles orange ; from each tubercle springs a tuft of long whitish hairs. Markings, 

 confined to the dorsal area, consist of two rows of irregular black marks, which form, 

 in some instances, well defined lines, and, in others, merely rows of dots, each row 

 being placed between the dorsal and second row of tubercles ; the 7th and 11th 

 segments possess a black band, which joins the two rows of markings together. 

 These markings vaiy much in distinctness. Food plant, the dewberry. The cocoon 

 is fixed to a dried culm of grass or twig, and is formed of silk interspersed with 

 portions of grass or bark, and closely resembles the substance to which it is affixed. 

 The imago emerges in about three weeks after the cocoon is made. — J. Platt 

 Baeeett, 34, Eadnor Street, Peckham : July 12th, 1876. 



Note on the pendulum-action in flight of $ Ilepialus humuli.—Thc following 

 observation is a very curious and interesting one, but I can hardly believe that it has 

 not been before placed upon record : if it have, this will be a confirmation ; if 

 not, further observations will no doubt be elicited. In crossing a meadow one even- 

 ing, three weeks ago, I noticed Ilepialus humuli $ swinging to and fro on the wing, 

 as is its wont. I used to believe that the female moth was hidden where the male 

 performed this at first sight meaningless operation ; and I have frequently looked 

 for her, as well as for the ^ of H. hectus, the movement of the $ of which species is 

 that of a much more accurate pendulum than in the case oi humuli. But my search 

 was always in vain, though I tliink I have more than once taken a pair of hectus 

 in cop. on tlie same tuft of Aira over whicli another <? was oscillating. Rcnicnibering 

 liow 1 hatl formerly failed to discover the object of this steady to and fro movement, 



