190 [January, 



Description of the larva of Scoria dealhata. — My notes on tho earlier stages of 

 this species are not so satisfactory as I could wish, for they were jotted down in a 

 busy time ; but, as far as they go, I believe them to be correct. 



On 2nd July, 1864, I received indirectly from Mr. Wilks (late of Ashford) some 

 eggs, which began to hatch on the 7th ; I scarcely know any larva which varies so 

 little in tint throughout its growth ; of course, as the bulk increases, more hnes 

 and mottlings appear, but they are all of the same ochreous and grey tints 

 throughout. Mr. Stainton, in the Annual for 1862, has described tho larva just 

 before hybernation, when he says it was A-inch in length ; but the three which I 

 succeeded in retaining (some dozen others escaped from my not being able to attend 

 to them in time) grew to a full inch in length before they ceased feeding ; all 

 through the winter I noticed that, except in the coldest weather, they remained 

 extended on the leno covering of their flower-pot, as though very fond of fresh air. 



On 14th February they began eating again, and grew slowly till the middle of 

 April, when they changed skin for the last time. About the middle of May they 

 seemed to have attained their full size, and began spinning about the 20th. 



When full grown this larva is a longish, stout-looking smooth looper, tapering 

 considerably from the hinder segments towards the head ; the length 1^ inch ; 

 the head flat and rounded at the sides ; the anal flap large. 



The general colour ochreous, or brownish-grey ; but ornamented with so many 

 waved and irregular liues that it is hard to describe. The head is pale ochreous ; 

 down the centre of the back is a double fine dusky line, which, with the first sub- 

 dorsal line (composed of a double fine thread also), forms a series of irregular 

 figures by alternately contracting and expanding ; on the anterior and posterior 

 segments the dorsal line becomes closer and darker. Below the first sub-dorsal 

 line is a stripe of yellowish or reddish-bufi", then comes another waved fine double 

 thread ; then the yellowish spiracles, scarcely distinguishable in a drab stripe, 

 which is bordered below with a dusky line, followed by a reddish-bufi" line ; the 

 belly drab, with central and sub-ventral whitish lines. The usual spots are repre- 

 sented by fine black dots, and the central segments in one specimen were sufiused 

 with a smoky hue. 



About 20th May these larvae began to spin, and soon formed for themselves 

 beautiful spindle-shaped cocoons of yellow silk, attached to upright blades of grass. 

 And here, unfortunately, I can say no more, after waiting some time for the perfect 

 insects I examined the cocoons closely, and found that, by some mischance, the 

 pupse had been killed. But although I failed, I think the species might be easily 

 reared if kept in tho open air, and fed on growing plants of dock, chickwecd, 

 knotgrass, and the coarse grass, which, in its localities, is doubtless the favourite 

 food of this species. — John Hellins, October Mh. 



JS'otes on hybernating Lepidoplera. — On the 11th of last August, the weather 

 being at that time stormy and wet, I chanced to observe on the ceiling of an 

 unoccupied building two specimens of Vanessa urticce, looking exactly as if settled 

 down for hybernation. Being resolved to see whether this was the case, I made a 

 pencil mark round each specimen, so as to know if cither moved. Ten days 



