114 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



or five inches of dead leaves, for the larvae of Arctia villica to winter 



in ; the pot to be put into an outside shed, and not directly exposed 

 to rain or cold. — J. W. Tutt. 



Larv.e of Acherontia atropos. — I have secured six larvie this 

 year, against ten last year. — (Rev.) C. R. N. Burrows, Rainhani, 

 Essex. Sept. 23rti, 1895. 



The early stages of the Satyrin.e. — Information wanted. — 

 We know none too much about the affinities of our higher Satyrids, 

 except that Melanargia (galafea), Hipparcliia (semele), and Erehia 

 are the most specialised, not only in the British, but also in the 

 European fauna. The highly specialised character of the pupa3 of 

 galatea and semele, and their general appearance, make one feel at 

 once that they are very near to one another ; but it is doubtful 

 whether they have not reached a high state of development by 

 separate though closely parallel paths. I find that I wrote some 

 general notes, as far back as May 80th, 1893, which read as follow^s : 



(1) The larva of galatt-a has a head which is large compared with 

 the constricted 1st thoracic segment; it (the head) is also rather thickly 

 clothed with hair, and in these respects much more closely resembles 

 ianira than sevielc ; the pinkish anal tips and crenate subspiracular 

 ridge, due to the depth of the abdominal incisions, resemble ianira 

 rather closely. 



(2) The pale-brownish variety of the larva of galatea, although 

 bearing a close superficial resemblance to that of semele, rolls in a 

 ring when disturbed. On the other hand, that of semele has a ten- 

 dency to keep out straight and stiff without movement under similar 

 conditions, and not to roll up. The larva of semele is of a more 

 cylindrical shape, and has the ventral surface more rounded than 

 than that of galatea, which has the ventral surface flatter, and puts 

 one some\Yhat in mind of a Thecla. 



(8) The subsegments of ianira, galatea and semele are as follow's : 

 ianira : 8 or 4 (1st thoracic), 4 (2nd and 8rd thoracic), 5 (abdominal) 

 galatea: 3 ( ,, ), 1 ( ,, ), 5 ( ,, ) 



semele: 2 ( ,, ), 6 ( ,, j, 6 ( ,, ) 



thus showing a much nearer alliance between ianira and galatea, 

 than between galatea and sehiele. 



I am in want of information from books or observation as to the 

 number of subsegments in the various segments of the larvje of 

 Coenoiiymplia {paviphilus or typlion) and of lujperanthiis. If I could 

 get this I might be able to get sufficient evidence to prove or disprove 

 a view I have, as to the evolution of galatea and semele as parallel 

 Satyrid branches, rather than along the same line. — I should be 

 also glad of tha same facts with regard to Epiuephele tithonns. — J. W. 

 Tutt, Westcombe Hill, S.E. 



URRENT NOTES. 



Most parasites of lepidopterous larvfe live inside the body of their 

 host. The Rev. T. A. jMarshall gives an account [K. M. ^f., Nov.) 

 of one that attaches itself to the outside of its host, and that he 

 believes to belong to the genus Plvromalus. A Noctuid larva (probably 

 of Mamestra hrassicac) was obtained on August 17th, which was not 

 quite full-grown, and which was " infested with thirteen parasites, 



