1902.] lg5 



On the larval case and habits of Phacopteryx brevipennis, Curt. — So far this 

 insect remains one of the rarest of the British Tn'choptera, not more than nine or 

 ten native specimens having been recorded. And yet one cannot help thinking 

 that when its habits are more generally known it will no longer remain scarce. 

 The ascertained British localities for it are near Scarborough, Askham Bog near 

 York, Bowdon in Cheshire, and Ranworth Fen, but the total captures do not exceed 

 the estimate given above. It is therefore advisable to place on record in this 

 country what has recently been written on its larval case, &c, in Germany, and it is 

 to Dr. R. Struck, of Liibeck, that we are indebted for this information. In a paper 

 published by him in the " Illustrierte Wochenschrift fur Entomologie," Band 1, 

 p. 615 (1896), in which he draws a comparison between the larval cases of 

 Trichoptera and Lepidoptera, is a notice of that of P. brevipennis (p. 617, fig. 1), 

 from which we learn that it is formed of large equal-sized pieces of leaves, that a 

 transverse section of it is triangular (witli a cylindrical central tube), and that 

 the sides of the triangle are flat (not concave as in Limn op hit us decipiens and 

 nigriceps, which also form triangular cases of similar materials). Later on in the 

 same journal (under its modified title "Illustrierte Zeitschrift fur Entomologie," 

 Band iv [1899]), in a paper entitled " Neue und alte Trichoptern-Larvengehause,'' 

 something further is said by him on the subject (p. 324, fig. 2U), to the effect that 

 the cases are equally broad and high at either end, and that the length is 2 to 2£ 

 centimetres. Finally, in 1900, Dr. Struck published in a separate form an exti'act 

 from a paper under the title " Lubeckische Tricboptern und die Gehause ihrer 

 Larven und Puppen," which originally appeared in "Das Museum zu Liibeck," 

 Here, at pp. 21-22, Taf. ii, fig. 10, the information is slightly more extended, and 

 we learn also (p. 31) that the larva is full-grown in June, and frequents ponds. 

 This embodies what has been written on the larval habits and case. As to the 

 perfect insects :•— In the summer of 1900, Mr. Morton visited Norway, and published 

 the results of his journey in this Magazine for 1901, and at p. 29 he states that 

 near Domaas he found P. brevipennis at a shallow pond overgrown with various 

 water-weeds, that the insect was " sluggish," and that its favourite position was 

 on the stems or leaves of Caltha. but that a few were beaten from pine trees. 

 This information, combined with Dr. Struck's account of the case, is very valuable, 

 and according to records of previous captures in this country, it is yet not too late 

 in the year to search for the insect here, and probably with more success than has 

 rewarded previous attempts, which have been made under somewhat erroneous 

 premises as to habits, &c. — R. McLachlan, Lewisham, London : June 20th, 1902. 



Agrionince near Oxford. — The pleasant annual function initiated by Prof. 

 Poulton, by virtue of which the Officers and Council of the Entomological Society 

 of London are invited to meet the Curators of the Hope Museum of Zoology, was 

 observed this year from July 5th to 7th. As is usual a factor in the function 

 consisted in a boating excursion on the Charwell, and I think more entomological 

 work was done than on former occasions (one never expects much on such excur- 

 sions !). The writer confined his attention to Agrionince (and some others joined), 

 which seemed very abundant, and the Charwell is just such a river as many of them 

 delight in. Collecting from a boat in motion is not easy, and is at times not 

 without an element of danger in it, nevertheless frantic, and usually futile, efforts 



