00 [SeptembtT, 



Notes on the lao-va and food-plant of EivpitJieda plumheolata. Haw. — During the 

 course of last sumniei', I had the pleasure of examining a veiy beautiful and care- 

 fully executed collection of drawings of various species of Geometrce, their larvsc 

 and food-plants. These drawings were the work of a very painstaking Continental 

 Entomologist, M. Carl Plotz. This gentleman figured the larva of Eup. plumheolata. 

 Haw., feeding upon the flowers of the purple cow-wheat, Melampyrum, cvrvense, L. 

 This plant is not very common in Great Britain ; another species, however, 

 31. pratense, L., is much more frequent. Finding that this latter plant almost 

 invariably grew in some jilenty in those localities where Eup. plumheolata was 

 most freely taken, it occurred to myself and several other entomological friends 

 that the larva might very probably be found to feed upon its flowers. I am happy 

 to say that our suspicions have proved correct. Towards the end of June, I re- 

 ceived a few eggs of Eup. photnbeolata from Mr. Hodgkinson, of Preston ; Mr. Barrett, 

 of Haslcmere; and Mr. George Baker, of Derby. The parent moths were all taken 

 flying over or among Melampyrum pratt-nso, and the eggs were mostly deposited upon 

 sprigs of this plant. They hatched in about a week, and from the batch sent me 

 by Mr. Baker I was fortunate enough to rear seven larvae to full growth. Mr. 

 Hellina, of Exeter, kindly supplied me with fresh flowers of Melampyrum pratense 

 (which does not grow here) every three days. Mr. Buckler, of Emsworth, has, with 

 his usual skill, taken some very accurate and life-like coloured drawings ; and 

 both he, Mr. Hcllins, and Mr. Baker, have been fortunate enough to take the larvae 

 themselves on the flowers of the Melampyrum in their respective neighbourhoods. 



1 cannot sufficiently thank these gentlemen, and Messrs. Barrett and Hodgkinson, 

 for the kindness they have shown, and the trouble they have taken, in helping me 

 to work out the economy of this interesting little insect. 



I subjoin a description of the lai-va and pupa. 



Somewhat short and stumpy ; in shape resembling the larva of Eu^. isogram- 

 mata,, Tr. Ground colour pale dull yellowish-green. Central dorsal line broad, 

 uninterrupted, dull purplish-red, enlarged at the centre of each segment into a 

 somewhat pear-shaped blotch. Sub-clorsal lines narrow, sinuous, dull purphsh-red. 

 Spiracular line yellowish, veiy faint. Spiracles blackish. Head yellowish, suf- 

 fused with purplish-red. Central dorsal and sub-dorsal lines sometimes merged, 

 leaving the back and sides suffused with pui-plish-red. Dorsal and lateral segments 

 thinly sprinkled with slender yellowish hairs. Belly naked, pale, dull, greenish- 

 yellow. Central ventral line wanting. Sub-ventral lines narrow, purplish-red. 

 Feeds on the flowers of Melampyrum pratense, L. ; when quite small on the stamens 

 alone, but afterwards on the whole corolla-tube. Full fed from the middle of July 

 to the middle of August. Reared from eggs scut me by Mr. George Baker, 

 47, Kedlcston-strcct, Derby, who took the parent moths on Breadsall Moor, near 

 Derby. 



Pupa either enclosed in a sUght cocoon on the surface of the ground, or in a dry 

 corolla- tube of the Melampyrum. Ground colour golden-yellow, abdominal divisions 

 and tip red. — H. HiRPUK Crewe, The Rectory, Drayton-Beauchamp, Tring, 

 August 4Wi, 1865. 



Food, time of appearance, ^^c, of Ypsipetcs clutata, Sfc. — In Buckland Wood, 

 and on the other wooded i^arts of Dartmoor, in Devonshire, I have long known that 



