IGS [June, 



Jluctiiata, and Anticlea derivata. — R. M. PxiiDEAUX, D, Yjvjan Terrace, Clifton, 

 Bristol: May Uh, 1891. 



Endromis versicolor at Reading — Yesterday, tlie 23rd, I was out among the 

 birches after some B. Parthenian, $ , which I wanted for eggs, when, what at first 

 sight appeared to be a V. Polychloros, passed me, but after going over and about the 

 tops of some fir trees, it was met by the strong east wind, when it altered the manner 

 of its flight, and I recognised it as a moth ; after following it for some distance I 

 netted it, and it proved to be a fine male E. vemiooloi-. To-day I visited the place, 

 and saw another one, but failed to catch it. Again it looked like a large Vanessa 

 coining towards me, but after I had struck at and startled it, it looked much more 

 like a B. rubi dashing off, and although it was going dead against a rough wind, I 

 could not overtake it. I searched the birch stems well for females, but without 

 success ; however, as this male is in such fresh condition, perhaps the female is not 

 yet out. I have never seen the species here before, and do not think it has 

 been recorded for Berks. — W. Holland, 111, Southampton Street, Eeading : 

 April 24th, 1891. 



P.S. — On Monday, the 27th, after a long search, I found a 9 iJ. versicolor 

 hanging from the small twigs of a birch bush, and looking like a large dry leaf; it 

 was quite low down, about a foot from the ground, just where it was best hidden by 

 the dead fern and long dry grass. I fear though that it had laid its eggs before I 

 found it, for it appears to be dying, and has laid me but one egg only. — W. H. 



This afternoon I have found eggs of E. versicolor I believe. I have not been 

 quite satisfied in my mind at missing the eggs of the female I found, so have been 

 searching the birches near the spot several times. To-day I had another look, and 

 found on a bush or two within about ten yards of where the female was, 49 large, 

 purple-brown, oblong eggs, with a depression at top, just like the one egg laid by the 

 female in the chip box. They were laid in little batches of from 6 to 12, in rows, 

 on the small twigs of birch at the bottom of the bushes. Sis of the eggs had hatched 

 before I found them, but I could not discover the little larvae anywhere ; they cer- 

 tainly were not on any leaves very near tlieir birthplace.— W. H. : May I3th. 



Coleopkora vibicifferella.—Jl is satisfactory to be able to report the re-occurrence 

 of Coleopkora vibicigerella. A friend and myself journeyed down to the Essex 

 Salt Marshes on April 27th, with the particular intention of looking for hibernated 

 larvse of O. smaragdarla. In this, however, we were not successful, but, oddly 

 enough, the very first plant of Arieniisia examined produced the Coleopkora, and 

 about a dozen more were found within a few yards. The insect is exceedingly local, 

 as Mr. Elisha has previously observed, for further careful search during the day 

 proved fruitless. C. vibicigerella is no exception to many others of the genus, larvae 

 in various stages of growth being obtainable at the same time. The smallest of all 

 now appear to feed only occasionally, and will no doubt pass another year before 

 assuming the pupal state. Several of the larger ones have already spun up. On 

 the Continent this species is reported to be attached to Artemisia campestris ; pos- 

 sibly a careful search amongst that plant might produce vibicigerella more plentifully 

 than we have it at present from A. marilima. — Geo. W. Biku, Honor Oak Park, 

 S.E. : May l^ih, 1891. 



