iOS THE entomologist's RECORD. 



affinity of the latter genus, which has even been placed in the 

 Genmi'triilae, seems to be now definitely ascertained. The Eujitcro- 

 tidac are not synonymous but distinct by the 11 -veined primaries. — A. 

 Radcliffe Guotk, M.A., Roemer Museum, Hildesheim. 



On the PROBABLE FIJXCTION OF THE VENTRAL WHITE PATCHES IN ADULT 



Pamphilid larv.h:. — Mr. Barrett, writing of the larva of T/ii/mdiciis 

 actai'on [Brit. Lop., p. 285) says : —"On the under surface of the tenth 

 and eleventh segments are the usual two snow-white patches, which 

 are said to be of a waxy nature, and the use and function of which is 

 totally unknown." We presume that Mr. Barrett means the two 

 white scaly excrescences found on the ventral area of the sixth and 

 seventh abdominal segments. Riihl says that in Pamphila roiinua this 

 " snoAV- white excresence is somewhat leaf -shaped, thick and viscous. 

 On the application of heat the substance melts like wax, and there- 

 with loses its white colour entirely." It appears that these are in 

 reality pockets of asbestos-like material, Avhich the larvae scatter 

 about when spinning their cocoons for pupation. We would suggest 

 that it probably helps to make the cocoons water-tight, a very 

 necessary provision, considering hoAV slender those of the Skipper 

 butterflies always are.— J. W. Tutt. June, 1896. 



On the wing expansion op Melit.t.a aurinia. — On May 31st, at 11 

 a.m., a female specimen of Mditara aurinia, having, as usual, at the 

 moment of emergence, stained the inside of the anal portion of the pupa 

 with a crimson fluid, emerged from the pupa. I happened to open the lid 

 of the cage the pupiB were kept in, and a small piece of the pupal shell 

 came away attached to the left antenna. This I at once removed. By 

 11.5, the imago had fixed itself for expansion. By 11.12, the left-hand 

 pair of wings had attained almost full growth, both the fore and hind- 

 wings expanding regularly. The right pair of wings had scarcely 

 expanded at all, and were small and crumpled. By 11.15, the hind- 

 wing of the riglit-hand pair had grown almost to full size, the fore- 

 wing on the riglit-hand side being small and much crumpled towards 

 the tip. It then began expanding rapidly, and soon reached the hind- 

 wing, passed it, and by 11.20 had attained its full size. The butter- 

 fly then hung motionless for about ten minutes, after which the 

 hanging wings were separated, and each pair bulged out centrally, 

 forming a convex bow on each side. About mid-day the wings were 

 hung perpendicularly, the hind-wings separated somewhat from the 

 fore-wings. At about 12.30, the wings were ready for flight. — J. W. 

 Tutt. Jiuw, 1896. 



Odynerus antilope. — This grand Odi/iwrnfi is very rare here; I am 

 not sure I have seen it here before, though it is not uncommon in 

 ]\Ionmouthshire. A few days ago a specimen flew up to a hole in a 

 brick wall close to a window out of which I happened to be looking ; 

 she carried a large larva, which she I'apidly passed into the hole, 

 following it herself. The whole operation was performed so quickly, that 

 I thought the larva was that of Pier is rapac, but a specimen after- 

 wards obtained was that of a large Turtri.r, almost certainly adjunctana 

 f forstrrana), full-grown, and rather larger than the Odi/iirnis, and no 

 doubt the other was the same. She carried it by holding it in her jaws 

 by about the 2nd or 3rd segment, and the further portion held by 

 her legs under and parallel to her body. She pushed the head of the 

 larva into the hole, seating herself at the same time outside, retreating 



