296 THE entomologist's record. 



■west point in Herefordshire, and then proceeds along a slanting north- 

 east line through Worcester, Warwick, Leicester, Nottingham, and 

 thence northwards to the top of England, but with the important 

 exception that it does not embrace the eastern portions of the mid- 

 lands. Stoke Dry is not very near the east coast, being some 50 miles 

 distant, in a straight line from the nearest point. I should much like 

 to know how near the coast this species occurs in the eastern midlands. 

 — (Rev.) G. H. Raynor, M.A., Hazcleigh Rectory, Maldon. October 

 9th, 1905. 



Larv.e of Drepana harpagula in Leigh Woods. — It may interest 

 the readers of the Ent. Becord to know that, in company with a friend, 

 I have been successful in obtaining a few larvas of Drepana liarparjida 

 {sicula) in the Leigh Woods during the past month. — Arthur M. 

 Downe, Batheaston Vicarage, Bath. October drd, 1905. 



Some stray Entomological notes. — (1) Aei/eria rJirysiilifoniiis : 

 On a visit to Folkestone in May, I was fortunate in obtaining a good 

 number of larvae. These were very local, one patch of sorrel plants 

 here and there having a fair number, w^hile other patches were 

 searched in vain. A little experience soon told one the infected plants, 

 which I dug up and transplanted into a breeding-cage at home. Those 

 larvae which I disturbed, soon burrowed into fresh plants. Some of 

 the larvffi are still feeding, so probably they take two years to reach 

 the pupal state. To pupate, most of the larvae fed their way upwards 

 to the base of the old last year's seed-stalks, and pupated in them. 

 Sometimes the cocoon was clearly visible above the broken edges of 

 the stalks. Emergence commenced on June 13th, and continued 

 regularly till July 2nd, after which one emerged on July 8th, and 

 another on July 28rd. I noticed, though I cannot find it mentioned 

 in any entomological books, a very distinct diti'erence in the coloration 

 of the sexes — the females inclining to scarlet, while the males were 

 rather orange. Possibly this is owing to the wing-scales being more 

 numerous in one than in the other. There was considerable variation 

 in size — on the Avhole, perhaps, the females are larger, but many males 

 were larger than some females. This again, may have been due to 

 their being bred somewhat artificially. I endeavoured to get a pairing, 

 but apparently failed, for, although one female laid a large number of 

 ova, they were infertile. Some of these ova I forwarded to Mr. Tutt, 

 at his request. They were laid all over the muslin sleeve in which 

 the insects were confined, over a groAving foodplant. One only was 

 laid on a leaf of the plant. The ova were laid on the inside surface 

 of the sleeve, proving that the ovipositor was not pushed through the 

 muslin. Several ova were laid on the pieces of wood Avhich supported 

 the sleeve. Probably, therefore, in a natural state they are laid either 

 on the leaf or stalks of the plant. (2) Alter)iative fuodjilants : 

 (hariclea /n///>rrt~-Norgate records that these larvae eat scarlet- runner 

 beans. Last August 1 collected a quantity, as also larvae of Kiipithecia 

 linaHata, and put them together in a breeding-cage, with both l>)io)iis 

 and Linarla. To my sui-prise the C. utnbra larvae deserted their own 

 food, and ate greedily the seed-pods of the Linaria. ArdLonclie cmosa 

 — I found these larvae eat readily, and seemed to prefer, sallow. 

 Learania atraminca — These larva' i'Lcd readily on ribbon graiss. — Percy 

 C. Reid, F.E.S., Feering Bury, Keivedon. Uctuber 2nd, 1905. 



Odd Lepidopterological notes. — Of Tliera tiriiiata Barrett says : 



