208 [September, 



very prevalent opinion among fruit growers in Natal, and as I could not help feeling 

 somewhat sceptical, I endeavoured to satisfy myself on the subject during the 

 summer of 1892-93, when moths of all kinds were visiting the damaged fruit in 

 very large numbers. My investigations, which were carried out in close proximity 

 to the now historic hamlet of Frere, led me to an entirely opposite conclusion, 

 namely, that the moths had nothing whatever to do with the damage, but merely 

 visited the fruit to regale themselves on the fermenting juices resulting from injuries 

 done by weather, birds, and especially other insects. Mr. Barrett's sister remarks 

 that " The peaches especially get a little rotten spot, and drop off at the slighest 

 touch. I have often wondered that the moth could pierce the rough rind of a not 

 very ripe St. Helena peach, but they spoil them when they are quite green." From 

 this it seems at least probable that she cannot be aware of that unmitigated little 

 pest, the "Peach Fly" (a species of Trypeta, if my memory serves), which, I think, 

 is now generally acknowledged to be the cause of all the trouble. The ? of this 

 small fly perforates the skin of the half-ripe peach with her ovipositor, and the 

 resulting maggots are the cause of the " rotten spot." On several occasions I 

 specially marked recently punctured peaches during the day, and on visiting them 

 with a lantern at night, found various moths sucking the punctures. Any one who 

 had thus observed them, and who was, at the same time, unaware of the habits of 

 Trypeta, might readily believe that the moth was actually boring into the fruit. It 

 is further diflicult to believe that the proboscis of a moth is capable of piercing the 

 skin of an unripe peach, and even were it possible, there is no obvious reason why 

 decay should set in. I have seen peaches punctured by small Hemiptera, but 

 beyond the exudation of a little gum, or perhaps a slight puckering and induration, 

 no great evil has resulted. — Guy A. K. Marshall, Salisbury, Mashonaland : 

 July, 1900. 



An apparent hermaphrodite specimen of Lyccena Adonis. — On June 9th L. 

 Adonis was ilying in great numbers near Reigate. I boxed, what at first sight 

 appeared to be a pair in copula, but a further inspection proved the supposed pair 

 to be one insect only, with the left wings of a female and the right wings of a male. 



In my experience amongst the " Blues " specimens combining the colours and 

 markings of both sexes are not uncommon. Not having examined the sexual organs 

 of the specimen referred to, I express no opinion as to whether it is a true her- 

 maphrodite.— H. Goss, Surbiton Hill : July 20th, 1900. 



Colias Edusa and C. Hyale in Surrey. — Several specimens of Colias Edusa 

 and C. Hyale have been caught here and in the Maiden fields last month, and also 

 in the Isle of Wight, so these species will probably appear on the south coast this 

 autumn. Lyceena argiolus has occurred here in thousands, and Brephos parthenias, 

 Platypteryx falcula, Scodiona lelgiaria, Saturnia carpini, Ephyra pendularia, 

 Eupisteria heparata, and many other species have been abundant. — Id. 



Unusual abundance of Acidalia inornaia at Huddersfield. — During the fourth 

 week in July last this species occurred here in great profusion. In one particular 



