116 [October, 



Looking on the back of this larva, the yellow marks on each side are suggestive 

 of a series of incompleted horse-shoe shapes. 



Vai'. 2. Ochreous-brown on the back ; the paler dorsal line after the fourth 

 segment only visible at the divisions ; the V-like streaks from them being longer 

 and darker than in the first variety. The yellow spot on the anterior portion of 

 each segment on either side the back, isolated from the yellow sub-dorsal streak by 

 a very dark brown, rather broad, edging to the yellow streak, and extending with it 

 along two- thirds of each segment after the fourth to the eleventh, and on- the twelfth 

 to the end of the segment, converging a little at the extremity ; and on these the 

 yellow marks are broad and straight, but those on the third and fourth segments arc 

 curved, and without the dusky brown border above. A dark brown plate on the 

 second segment. Head pale grey, streaked and mottled with dusky brown. Belly 

 and sides similar to the preceding. 



Var. 3. Dingy ochreous-brown on the back, and darkest towards the head ; 

 the slender and slightly paler dorsal line hardly visible, and only at the segmental 

 divisions. 



On each side of the back, in the sub-dorsal region, at the anterior of each 

 segment, and beginning at the fiilh, a dingy ochreous spot and curved streak, 

 becoming confluent at the eighth and three following segments (on the twelfth the 

 streak only visible) ; each yellow curved streak edged above with a thin black 

 streak, and extending two-thirds down each segment ; the spaces on the middle of 

 the back between the streaks being filled up with dark brown, and two minute 

 dusky dots edged vrith paler in the upper portion of these somewhat square dark 

 forms. The curved yellow sub-dorsal streaks slightly marked on the second, third, 

 and fourth segments, and the yellow spots also on the fourth. Head dingy brown ; 

 the sides dingy brown, with a paler gi-eyish stripe above the feet, anteriorly 

 edged above with dusky, and obhque streaks above it, as in var. 1, but not so well 

 defined. The anal segment in each of the larvse plain dingy brown. The moths 

 appeared on July 8th, 1865. — William Buckler, Emsworth. 



Aclierontia Atropos in Scotland. — Having observed in several Enghsh news- 

 papers that the larvae of Aclierontia Ahvpos are plentiful this season in the south, I 

 have to inform you that we, in the north, have also had a visit of them, as I have 

 had ten larvae brought me within the last week ; and had it not been for the igno- 

 rance of the country people, who destroyed all they came across, in the belief (as 

 one of them told me,) that they were " big Rail Worms," I should have collected a 

 good number more. — Richard Borthavick, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Aug. 22nd. 



Unusual food of Acherontia Atropos, ^c. — In the first week of this month throe 

 very fine larvae of A. Atropos were discovered in a cottage garden in this village, 

 feeding on the shrub commonly known as " Snowberry." One was unfortunately 

 destroyed ; the other two reached me in safety, and soon fed up on the above men- 

 tioned plant. I have never found this insect before in this locality, nor have I 

 heard of it having been seen here. I suppose the season will prove generally, as it 

 certainly has done here, one of the best for insects which we have had for several 

 years.— Rev. Sir C. R. Lighton, Bart., Ellastono, Ashbourne, August 24^''. 1865. 



