1891.1 197 



and as I am not aware that the true tormentillella has occurred in Britain as yet, 

 the latter species has, to the best of my belief, no claim to a place in our list. 



I should have made the correction before this, but was misled by the way in 

 which my note is referred to in the index of Ent. Mo. Mag., xxiv. Happening to 

 notice that, without a word having passed to or from me on the matter, my descrip- 

 tion of the larva had been entered, under the heading of " Larva) of British species 

 described in this volume," as belonging to N. serella (the original description of 

 which had appeared in a later part of the same volume), I naturally concluded that 

 the rest of my note had been indexed as referring to serella, and that my mistake 

 had to all intents and purposes been set right ; unfortunately, however, such is not 

 the case, as I see that strangely enough both in the general and the special index 

 my remarks are entered as applying to the true tormentillella ! — Id. 



The flight and pairing of the genus Hepialus. — Referring to my communications 

 on this subject (vol. xxiii, 1st series, pp. 186 and 214), in which I described the 

 flight and pairing of H. humuli, hectus, and sylvinns, I have now to record that I 

 have at last observed the pairing of H. lupulinns, and the manner in which the ? 

 attracts the ^ . I have no doubt the process is exactly the same as in sylinnus, but 

 I was fortunately able on the present occasion to watch her for a considerable period, 

 and as this species flies whilst it is yet light, my observation, though a solitary one, 

 appears quite complete and satisfactory. On the evening of June 3rd, I saw a newly 

 emerged ? crawling up a grass stem. It was then just eight o'clock, and at the 

 same moment a $ approached with its usual rapid, irregular flight. It flew within 

 a foot of her, but did not take the slightest notice, and was evidently unconscious of 

 her proximity. When she was half way up the stem she commenced to vibrate her 

 wings ; first there was a preliminary flutter or two, and then a steady long-continued 

 vibration, which lasted without any intermission for ten minutes. A (J then 

 approached. It flew in its usual quick, erratic manner, until within about three feet 

 of where she sat. The rapid fliglit was instantly cheeked, and it commenced to fly 

 backwards and forwards, advancing very slowly as it did so, evidently searching for 

 her, when within a foot I netted it, and in doing so slightly disturbed her ; the 

 vibrations of her wings ceased, and after a short pause she commenced to crawl 

 further up the stem. I feel sure it was the net that disturbed her, and not any 

 consciousness of the approach of the $ . As she climbed up, she gave a quick 

 flutter or two, then moved up a little, another flutter and a further progress upward, 

 until she seemed satisfied, settled herself comfortably on the stem, and begun again 

 with the rapid vibrations of her wings. This was kept up as before for rather over 

 twenty minutes before another $ appeared. It flew in the same way, rapidly but 

 erratically, until within three or four feet, and then slowly backwards and forwards, 

 advancing as it did so, until he found her. The act of pairing appeared to bo coni- 

 pleted instantly. There cannot, I think, be the slightest doubt that the ? diffuses 

 faint attractive odour (though I confess I was again unable to detect it), and that 

 the vibration of the wings, as in sylviiius, assists to diffuse it. This diffusion, 

 judging from the distance at which the males changed their mode of flight, does not 

 appear to be effective more than three or four feet from where it emanates. The 

 night in question was absolutely calm, perhaps with a little wind it might have 

 influence at a greater distance. — Joux E. Robson, Hartlepool : June, 1801 



