220 I March, . 



pfiora, Apamea, Catocala, &c.); on the Srd pair of tibiae or fore-wing of 

 various genera of the Geometrina (JBoarmia, Macaria, lodis, Acidnlia, 

 Gldaria, &c.) ; or on the fore-tibiae and first tarsal joint in the Deltoides* 

 It is invariably impregnated with an acid secretion, that often stains it 

 orange or black in colour, and diffuses various unctuous odours (as 

 of turpentine, when the imago frequents deal boards or the larva feeds 

 on pine). The death's head moth, in squeaking, at times slightly 

 elevates its abdomen, and depresses its wdngs, or it lays back its 

 antennae, whence the theory of Vallot and Johet, confuted by Kirby 

 and Spence (Intr. to Ent.. 7th ed., p. 493). It has a favourite sphinx- 

 posture on its four hind legs, with its head raised, is fond of patting, 

 with its fore-feet (suctorial insects "communicate" with the touch of 

 the tarsus or antennae), and will sometimes run after an object. 



I should here mention that the larva of the "death's head" has 

 the power of producing a crackling sound by a testy lateral jerk of 

 the head, due, probably, to muscular contraction (Landois, Ton-und 

 Stimmap. der Insecten, p. 59), and inappropriately termed stridulation 

 by Scopoli (Ent. Carn., p. 185, I763)t. The motion is observable in 

 many other lepidopterous larvae, and a group of the caterpillars of 

 Callimorpha jacohcEce feeding, go through a really remarkable perform- 

 ance of this " head-wagging," when a cloud or passing object intercepts 

 their sunlight. The accompanying crepitation peculiar to Acherontia, 

 is nevertheless well attested (Meigen, Syst. Beschr. der Europ. Schmet., 

 Leipzig, 1830 ; Zoologist, 1858, pp. Q211, 6282 ; Ent. Weekly Intelli- 

 gencer, vol. iv, p. 196, vol. V, p. 29 ; Canadian Entomol., vol. i, pp. 

 40, 47, 48 ; Trans. Ent. Soc, vol. iv, proceed., p. 157, &c.). The pupa 

 of this "Sphinx," also, like many other pupae, emits a noise (Ent. 

 Weekly Intel., vol. v, p. 117, vol. vi, p. 91). 



Guildford : January, 1877. 



NOTES ON THE TORTRICES OF PEMBEOKESHIEE. 

 BY C. G. BAREETT. 



Penthina sellana. — Early in July I found this species flying 

 swiftly in the sunshine, about the face of the cliffs, at Tenby, and 

 settling on stones or rocks. It also flies at sunset. 



* If Mr. Swinton had examined a large general collection of exotic Lepidoptera, he might 

 have multiplied instances of the possession of a "fan " in the S , and have added to the positions 

 on which it is placed. There docs not a])pear to be the slightest ground for supposing that it has 

 any connection with •' stridulation," and its use (whatever it may be) is probably as varied as is 

 its position. Many of the British Nocluce possess it as a basal abdominal appendage, and yet, 

 we remember that, a few years ago, a member brought to the Entomological Society, the S of 

 one of our common NoctucF, as an interesting exhibition, because he h.ul detected this fan. We 

 should like to have further evidence to the effect that it is always "impregnated with an acid 

 secretion."— Eds- 

 ■ t " larva imiata stridms." Scopoli, I. c— Eds. ^ 



