1876.] 93 



steep slope covered witli grass, flowers, and dwarf furze extends down to some grand 

 terraces of sea beaten rock, accessible with little difficulty. Here I soon found traces 

 of pJiilanthifortnis, and, before long, had the pleasure of seeing a specimen sunning 

 itself on the bare limestone rock. In this case, seeing was not catching ; but a 

 couple of sjjccimens were soon after secured, and some pupse found, from several of 

 which .the moths have since emerged. 



As usual, the pupae were only to be foinid in stunted plants growing in chinks of 

 the rocks, within reach of the sea spray. The larva, after hollowing out the main 

 stem of the plant, forms a silken tubular cocoon within it. On emerging, the pupa 

 skin is drawn out on the top of the dead plant. — Chas. G. Barrett, Pembroke : 

 Ibth July, 1S7G. 



iSote on jEbidea stachydaUs. — Strange to say, Ebulea stachydalis has totally 

 failed to re-appear in the locality in which I took my specimen last year, but for this 

 there is compensation in the fortunate discovery of the species within a few hundred 

 yards of home. A lai-ge patch of the ill-smelling Stachys sylvatica grows on some 

 rough ground by the railway, and scattered plants along the neighbouring ditches, 

 and here I have been able to secure some fine examples. 



A more intimate acquaintance with the species reveals the unexpected fact, that 

 when alive it is not strikingly like sambucalis, but from its shorter, squarer fore- 

 wings, its darker colour and square discal spot, is actually far more likely to be 

 mistaken, when flying, for Scapula olivalis. In habit, it closely agrees with verbas- 

 calls, fluttering close among its food-plant when disturbed, and creeping under and 

 hiding itself among the plants as quickly as possible. Probably its sluggish and 

 secret habits have had much to do with its having been so long overlooked in this 

 country, but it may, probably, also prove to be very local. I have searched the 

 Stachys in various places for twenty miles, but without again meeting with the 

 insect. Moveover, it appears to be, here, utterly regardless of the facilities for its 

 spread and increase afforded by the luxuriant abundance of Parietaria officinalis on 

 every old wall in the neighbourhood, — the only Lepidopterous insect attached to 

 this plant being apparently Xylopoda Fahriciana. 



As stachydalis is bv no means over, I still hope to find it in other localities. — 

 Id. 



Diasemia literalis. — Mr. Barrett's note on this species incites me to put on re- 

 cord all I know about it, merely, however, as confirmatory of what he has said, for I 

 can give but very little additional information. 



The only specimen I ever met with myself, I took one evening between 9 and 10 

 o'clock, at a lamp in a Eailway Station, situated in a valley of the best land in this 

 county, with rich pasturage and great elm trees, but with hUls of poorer land not 

 very far off. Mr. Norcombe, who was quick of eye and light of foot, for one or two 

 seasons took several specimens on the wing, early in the evening on the slopes of a 

 very steep rough field in this neighbourhood ; I have not been able to visit it for 

 years, but I remember the soil was very poor and hard, and the herbage scanty : he 

 used to stand so as to get them in sight against the sky, and I fancy they did not fly 

 very much above the grass flower heads. On consulting the Intelligencer, vol. iv, 

 p. 157, 1 see Mr. Norcombe's captures in 1858 must have been made at the very end 

 i>f July. —J. Hellins, Exeter: July Sih, 1870. 



