1ST7.; 159 



the recurrence hero of this specie? in 1877. Eight specimens have, to my know- 

 ledge, occurred : a pair on each of the 2Sth, 29th, and 30th August, and the hast two 

 early in September. Four of these fell to my share, and all were taken at sugar in 

 the small woods between Freshwater and Yarmouth (the same locality as that in 

 which they were taken by Mr. Blackburn and myself last year). Having sugared in 

 the same wood every night for three weeks before albipuncta turned up, I should 

 say that it is a species which makes its first appearance in a worn and chipped condi- 

 tion. With the exception, perhaps, of one Phycis Davisellus and two Depressaria 

 subpropinquella, var. rhodochreella (beaten out of thatch), nothing worth recording 

 rewarded my exertions at this locality during August, which, indeed, seems a blank 

 month here. A few larvteof Diphthera Orion resulted from assiduous beating in the 

 woods above alluded to, but otherwise larva-hunting was lost labour. — Chaeles J. 

 BrcKMASTER, Susscx Lodge, Wandsworth, S.W. 



On the habits of Ebulea staehydalis. — On June 2oth, I noticed some well-grown 

 Stachys sylvatica in a warm sunny spot under a lull, and on investigation, turned 

 out one lovely Ebulea staehydalis, evidently fresh from the pupa; but wet weather 

 came on and I did not see another until July 2nd, after which the storms of wind 

 and rain became most violent, and it was not till July 24th and 25th that I could 

 find the insect in any numbers, and then the majority were spoiled ; in fact, they had 

 no chance, they could hardly peep out of a hedge without the risk of being swept 

 away by the wind, and, unfortunately, they do not seem to have sense enough to 

 choose a sheltered hedge. They seem to prefer the lanes, but are only to be found 

 in isolated spots, and not by any means wherein the Stachys grows. I think the 

 species was at least a fortnight late this year ; indeed, I saw one, badly worn, in the 

 garden, as late as August 6th. 



The larva was to be found feeding all through October, and I even met with 

 two on the 5th Xovcmber, when searching for p'^ipis ot Ainblyptilia acanthodactylus, 

 which are to be found attached by the tail to the flower spike of the Stachys, between 

 two of the whorls of seed vessels, where they look like dried up flowers.— Charles 

 Gr. Babeett, Pembroke : November 8th, 1877. 



On the habits of Diasemia literalis. — At the time when Diasemia literalis ought 

 to have appeared, the weatlier was stormy and wet, and when, on June 4th, it 

 began to mend, I found one specimen, and that one worn. However, I knew that on 

 the bare places which it frequents, one day's rain would be sure to produce that effect, 

 so did not despair, and on the 9th was gratified at finding a few fine specimens, 

 although they were still very scarce, and it was not until four days later that they 

 were to be found in any number. 



As was the case last year, they were entirely confined to pasture fields on the 

 hill-sides, where the herbage was most bare and scanty. Here they sheltered them- 

 selves behind any little tuft of grass, or in any inequality of ground which would 

 serve as a protection from the wind, but wore easily disturbed whenever the sun 

 shone or the air was warm. I found them most active, however, from 5 to 6 p.m., 

 and most diflioult to disturb after 6.30 p.m., but suspect that they fly again at night. 



1'he second brood appeared about August 16th (last year it was worn on August 

 17th), and was not scarce, but the specimens, females especially, were smaller than 

 those of the first brood. 



