23G [March, 



Ground colour a bright apple-green, the head tinged with yellow ; two yellowish- 

 white lines, having a yellowish pulsating line between them, form the dorsal stripe ; 

 Bub-dorsal lines yellowish-white, and there are two other lines of the same colour, 

 but much finer and indistinct, between them and the spiracular region : segmental 

 divisions yellow. 



The ventral surface is of the same colour as the dorsal area, with pale central 

 and side lines, and the segmental divisions yellow. 



The larva forms a cocoon below tlie surface of the ground, by drawing particles 

 of earth rather firmly together with silken threads. 



The pupa is nearly half-an-inch long, and moderately stout in proportion ; it is 

 of the ordinary cylindrical sliape, attenuated to the anal point, which is not very 

 sharp ; the wing-, leg-, antenna-, and eye-cases are well defined, those of the 

 antennee being conspicuously ribbed ; there are also two short but distinct points 

 extending outwardly forward from the head. Colour almost uniformly dark mahog- 

 any-brown. — Geo. T. Porbitt, Highroyd House, Huddersfield : January Wi, 1878. 



Note on the Egg of Tephrosia iiundidaria. — Last May Mr. E. Birchall sent me 

 eggs of this species, which I had much interest in examining under the microscope. 



The egg is oblong, cylindrical, and full, more conical at one end than the other; 

 the shell of dull appearance without any gloss, but also without any reticulation or 

 granulation, except just in the centre of the fuller end, where there is a small circular 

 patch of oval reticulation ; the colour of the egg is a light bright green. 



Of course this description shows the egg to be perfectly of the geometer type, 

 but in the point of being devoid of ornament, except in the centre of one end, it is 

 like the egg of Charceas graminis ; the shell of this egg (which is of the usual 

 Noctua form) is evenly granulated all over, in a very fine pattern, but has in the 

 centre of the top a small star or rosette as its ornament. 



After this I should be extremely glad to get a few eggs of TepJirosia crepuscularia 

 (of Doubleday's List), and if any one who is in the habit of taking that species, 

 would remember mc at the proper season, I should be tliaukful to him, and would 

 make the best return in my power.- — J. Hellins, Exeter : January dth, 1878. 



llcuiiJius. 



The Midland Naturaiist : edited by E. W. Badger and W. J. Harrison. 

 Vol. i. No. 1. London : Hardwicke and Bogue. Birmingham : Cornish Bros. 

 January, 1878. 



Another addition to the list of British Natural History periodicals, wliich, from 

 the very careful manner in which the opening No. is got up, looks as if it intended to 

 take an important position. The secondary title is " The Journal of the Associated 

 Natural History, Philosophical, and Archaeological Societies and Field Clubs of the 

 Midland Counties." The idea appears to have been started in 1874, but it was not 

 until 1876 that it took any serious form. At present, the " Union " consists of no 

 less than seventeen local societies, and more are confidently expected to join. Even 

 in this country, few are aware of the multitudinous Natural History Societies and Field 

 Clubs- that exist iu the thickly-populated midland Ind northern counties of England. 



