i87r.] 281 



As far as I can ascertain, these are the first genuine British specimens observed, 

 since it appears that the supposed Carlisle specimens were only dipsacea. The 

 second specimen taken has been sent to me by the kindness of Mr. Thornthwaite, 

 and is in very fair condition. It is really a very different species to dipsacea, the 

 ground colour of both fore and hind-wings being white, and all the markings grey, 

 except a black streak at the origin of the subterminal line on the costa. There is no 

 trace whatever of the olive-ochreous colour of dipsacea, and the fore-wings have all 

 three stigmata very large and distinct, resembling in some degree those of Agrotis 

 corticea and the base, costal margin, hind margin and a band preceding it, are all 

 clouded with grey. The hind-wings have a large grey central isolated lunule, beyond 

 which is a narrow angulated band, followed by the usual broad band with light 

 blotches, at the hind margin. 



It seems that Mr. Thornthwaite has been in the habit of collecting by means of 

 more than ordinarily powerful lights, and thereby has attracted species which, either 

 from their rarity or wariness, are seldom obtained. After trying this mode of col- 

 lecting in Norfolk when visiting, he left the lamps with friends, who have captured 

 and sent on to him (unset) the insects which they have been able to secure. Among 

 them were these scutosa, some Heliothis armigera, most of which seem to have 

 damaged themselves by unnecessary activity, and many other species. — CuAS. Gr. 

 Baeeett, Pembroke : 13^7* April, 1877. 



He-occurrence of Myelois ceratonia in England.- — I am glad to record that 

 Myelois ceratonicB has been again taken in this country. Mr. Stainton mentions in 

 his " Manual " the captvire of but one specimen. For the last three years, however, 

 specimens have been taken by myself, and by one or two friends, in a warehouse in 

 London. I hear, through the kindness of Mr. C. G-. Barrett, that Professor Zeller 

 states he has bred it from pods of Ceratonia siliqua, but I have reason to believe that 

 the spc'cimens I* have taken were from almonds imported from Tarragona and the 

 Island of Iviza.— A. B. Fabn, The Dartons, Dartford : 2nd April, 1877. 



On a form of Depressaria costosa. Haw. — In June, 1875, I collected in the 

 Botanical Gardens at Cambridge a number of larvse in spun-up shoots of Genista 

 iinctoria, from which I was much surprised to breed a series of apparently unusually 

 dark Depr. costosa. These larvas were tolerably bright green, with dor.sal and sub-dorsal 

 stripes disthictly brownish-red ; and I therefore concluded that Stainton's brief de- 

 scription of the larva as " grey " was founded upon an illusion. However, in June, 1876, 

 I found in the New Forest a grey larva, indistinctly striped with darker, equally com- 

 mon on furze, broom, and Genista anglica. Having concluded that the larva of 

 costosa was green and red, I wondered much what these might be : and expected 

 nothing less than the series of ordinary costosa which I bred from them. 



I have carefully compared these two series, but can only discover the following 

 points of difference : (1) in the first series (from Genista iinctoria) the fore-wings 

 are very markedly more suffused with brown than in the second, but the individuals 

 differ a good deal, and the lightest of the first present no difference from the darkest 

 of the second : (2) the hind-wings in the first series arc distinctly darker : (;i) all 

 the specimens but one of the first series have a tolerably broad black ring towards 

 apex of terminal joint of palpi : those of the second liavc in no case more than a 



