88 THE entomologist's RECORt>. 



pollen. The metamorphoses of Mlcropteryx have long been known, 

 those of Eriocephala are now described for the first time. The eggs 

 are spherical and have a covering of minute vertical rods, Avhich gives 

 them a snowy appearance ; they are laid, several together, in moss 

 {Hypnum). The larvae are most extraordinary creatures and in general 

 outline are not unlike the larvje of Ornithoptera or of Antherea poly- 

 phenms ; they are short, square, angular and truncate, with eight rows 

 of curious knobbed appendages (Plate E, fig. 8), eight pairs of aljdominal 

 pro-legs of a jointed structure, an anal sucker and remarkably long 

 antenna3. The larva feeds on Hypnwn, is very sluggish in its movements 

 but rarely quiescent, and requires a very moist habitat ; it spins an oval 

 cocoon amongst moss. 



The other external-feeding Micros are the Limacodidac and 

 Zygaenidae. This relationship of families is further supported by 

 observations made on the newly-hatched larva of Limacodes tedudo 

 whose spines have, at that period, an arrangement and structure more 

 resembling Eriocephala than any other form. The sucker of Eriocephala 

 and the mode of progression of Limacodes (almost unique amongst 

 Lepidoptera) furnish another strong suggestion of the alliance. The 

 extra abdominal pro-legs present in the larvae of Lmjoa cri^pata (a 

 Limacodid), which the author hoj^es to investigate further, seem a 

 reminiscence of the extra abdominal i)ro-legs of Eriocephala. The 

 points suggesting the alliance with the Zygaenidae need further study. 

 It is noted that Syntomis, Euchromia and other forms often associated 

 with Zygaena are very distinct from it ; they are Arctiids and there 

 is no near relationship between Zygaena and Arctia. Eriocephala, 

 Limacodes and Zygaena, though more nearly related to each other than 

 to anything else, are nevertheless widely separated and may be likened 

 to the islets which still remain above the surface to indicate the moun- 

 tain peaks of a submerged continent ; there must, in the course of their 

 developmental history, have been many intermediate families. The 

 persistence of s^'stematists in associating Arctiid forms with Zygaena, 

 and the Micro patterns of wing-marking common in Arctiids are 

 probably results of some alliances which are at present obscure. The 

 larvaj and pupa? show them to be now widely separated. 



The erstwhile Leicester Ento3iologioal Club has become the 

 Entomological Section of the Leicester Literary and Philosophical 

 iSociETV. Its first meeting under the new conditions was held on 

 Jan. 25th, 1894, when W. A. Vice, M.B., was elected Chairman, Kev. 

 C. T. Crutwell, M.A., Vice-chairman, and F. Bouskell, F.E.S., Hon. 

 Secretary. It was resolved to hold meetings on the fourth Tuesday of 

 each month. Ur. W. S. Kiding's paper (Ent. Bee, Jan., 1894), " On 

 an additional method for determining the species of certain Lepido})- 

 tera," was discussed ; Mr. Bates considered that, although the number 

 of teeth in the scales might aid in the differentiation of species, yet that 

 more obvious characters were necessary for general use, and it was 

 generally agreed, that if the scales were relied upon, extremely accurate 

 observations of them would be imperative. A new list of the Lepidop- 

 tera of the county is in course of in-c})aration* and a list of the Coleoptera 

 is contemplated ; Mr. Bouskell Avill be glad to receive notes relative to 

 the occurrence of Lepidoptera, whilst similar notes concerning Coleoptera 

 should be sent to Mr. F. Bates. 



* W lial has become of the much talked of City of London Society's List ? — Ed. 



