16 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



Hymenoptera. 

 Hedyhis, nov. gen., for H. hnbilis, n. sp., Marshall, Tr. Ent. Soc. 

 Lond., March, pp. 14-16. Found by Mr. Bignell in South Devon. 

 Opins cofiipar, n. sp., Marshall, t.c, p. 32, near Nunton, Wilts. 

 Opiiis zelofes, n. sp., Marshall, t.c, p. 40. Devonshire. 



Lepidoptera. 

 Smerinthus tilicc varr. [aberr.] nov. obio/eta, bipuncfata, centripuncta, 

 cflstipu/icfa, and sitffnsa, J. A. Clark, E7it. Rec, 328, 329. PI. A. 

 Melanthia riibiginata var. nov. virgata, Tutt, Eni. Rec, 321. 

 Melanippe fluctiiata var. nov. immaciilata, Tutt, Ent. Rec, 322. — 



T. D. A. COCKERELL. 



^OTES ON COLLECTING, Etc. 



Phoxopteryx myrtillana near London. — In labelling my last 

 season's captures this winter, I came across one insect which I think 

 should be recorded, viz., Phoxopteryx myrtillana. I found a single 

 fine specimen at rest on a flower, on the evening of June 22nd last, 

 at Temple Mills, about half a mile from this house. So little did I 

 expect this species in this neighbourhood, that I did not recognise it 

 until I was about to label and mount it for the cabinet. In order 

 to be quite sure that there was no mistake, I showed it to Mr. 

 Machin, who at once pronounced it to be myrtillana. As the G.E.R. 

 runs trains to and from Doncaster it is possible that it may have 

 been conveyed from Yorkshire by this means. I have never seen the 

 foodplant in Essex, and, upon turning to Gibson's Flora of Essex, 

 I find he only gives two localities for it — Danbury and Lower Forest, 

 Epping. However it may have got here, I regard it as a very 

 interesting capture. — A. Thurnall, 144, Chobham Road, Stratford 

 New Town, E. March r^th, i8yi. \_MyrtiUana is hardly a species 

 one would expect to take a railway journey, and then be found in 

 such fine condition near London. — Ed.] 



Hybernation of Xylina semibrunnea. — In reply to Mr. Mason's 

 remarks, re X. semibrunnea {ante, vol. i., p. 327), I may state that 

 this insect certainly does hybernate, although it seem to be seldom 

 met with in the spring. On looking over my notes for the year 1875, 

 I find that I took a single ? in very fair condition on sallow bloom 

 on March 31st of the above year. This was at Whittlesford, near 

 Cambridge, where I was then residing. On mentioning the circum- 

 stance to Mr. F. Bond, he said (in a letter now before me, dated 

 April 2nd, 1875) : — "I have taken semibrunnea at sallow bloom, once 

 or twice, one was a fine specimen and one or two others were worn." 

 This insect used to be quite common at times on ivy bloom in the 

 above-named village. As an instance, on further referring to my 

 notes for the same year, I see that in October and November I took 

 no less than forty-four of which forty were on the ivy bloom, and four 

 only at sugar. Every one of these was as good as bred, and all taken 

 in -my father's garden. Xanthia gilvago was equally common at sugar 

 a short time before. I have never found or seen the larva of semi- 

 brunnea, but the late Mr. E. Newman gives a full description of it 



