61 [Auifust. 



I stood and looked at several of the moths (as one does sometimes at a difficult pro- 

 blem), and then observed that they occasionally shifted their ground a few feet, so 

 that their senses must be very obtuse if all the attention they appear to give to one 

 spot is i-equired merely to discover that it is barren. Whilst so pondei'ing, a heavy 

 moth, careering along in the wild manner of lupuUnus or velleda, actually "collided" 

 with one of the i humuli, or at least touched it and settled on the grass, about a 

 foot in front of it. The <? humuli immediately followed, and was at once paired with 

 the stranger, which proved to be humuli ? . I looked out on several following 

 evenings, to repeat the observation if possible, but failed to do so. Though this is a 

 solitary observation, I entertain no doubt that the female moth searches for and finds 

 (? selects) the male by sight, which gives a good reason for the conspicuous appear- 

 ance of the latter sex, and an explanation of its remarkably small antennae compared 

 with those of the " sembling " Bomhyces, in which the male finds the female by an 

 antennal sense analogous to smell. — T. A. Chapmax, Hereford : July, 1876. 



Another British example of Ehulea stachi/dulis. — Among the eight examples of 

 presumed E. sambucalis in my collection, I find one to be E. stachydalis, as de- 

 fined by Zeller, and of its specific distinctness from the former there can, I tliink, be 

 no doubt. This was taken by myself, many years ago, but when and where I cannot 

 say. In the days when I collected British Lepidoptera, I adopted the plan in vogue, 

 then as now, among our Lcpidopterists, of not labelling my captures. Possibly, in 

 any case, there are few who would think it necessary to indicate the locality of 

 sambucalis. — E. McLachlan, Lewisham : June, 1876. 



Occurrence of Pachetra leucophaa near Ashford, Kent. — I wish to place upon 

 record the occurrence of this species here. I have not seen any notice of recent 

 captures, and believe a well authenticated British example is looked upon with con- 

 siderable interest. On the 7th of last month, I accompanied some friends to a wood 

 in this neighboiu'hood, where we were occupied principally botanically. Just as we 

 were about to leave, I saw a moth on the trunk of a birch tree very near the ground, 

 which I felt sure must be Pachetra leucophcea, and which I have since corroborated 

 as that species. It is a $ , in perfect condition. Of course I tried to obtain ova, 

 supplying it with grasses, but to no purpose ; probably it had not been long out. 

 — William K. Jeffeet, Ashford : July Wth, 1876. 



Capture of Leucania vitellina in the New Forest. — A specimen of this insect was 

 taken at sugar, in September last, in the New Forest, by Mr. George Tate, who, 

 however, remained in perfect ignorance of the importance of his capture till the 

 species was recognised by a London entomologist. It lias now been transferred to 

 my cabinet. — J. Gr. Koss, Bathampton, near Bath : 17th July, 1876. 



Habits of Myrmedonia collaris. — Among numerous insects collected from the 

 detritus of inundations, I saw a fine Myrmedonia collaris ; and, fearing that it 

 might be destroyed by contact with the other insects in my bottle, I put it into 

 a vase where by chance were some small twigs from an ant's nest, and half-a-dozen 

 vigorous ants. In an instant afterwards I saw it siezc with its mandibles an ant 



