1919,] 201 



feeding, and did not often take flight. They would, however, readily 

 do so when picked off a flower. It was observed that in flight they do 

 not open tlie wing-cases, but keep them closed on the back, the wings 

 being put out through the einargination of the sides of the elytra. When 

 taking flight the elytra are i-aised a little above the abdomen to allow 

 more ready egress to the wings, but Avithout opening at the suture, 

 so that the operation is accomplished with remarkable suddenness. 



Considerable variation in size and colour was observed, some indi- 

 viduals being perfectly green, others of a coppery-golden tint, these 

 differences being quite irrespective of sex. Three specimens were found 

 of a shining black colour, faintly tinged with bronze. This is apparently 

 the var. nigra Gaut. of the European list, but the form does not appear 

 to have been hitherto noticed in the British Isles.* These three specimens 

 are females, and they were all taken off thrift on the same headland,, 

 two of them on one day and one a few days later. Further search failed 

 to discover any more, though the normal form was plentiful enough. 



One example noted, though unfortunately it flew away while under 

 observation, was remarkably hairy. This, I imagine, must have been a 

 freshly emerged individual that had either passed the winter in its cocoon 

 before escaping from it, or hibernated as a full-grown larva. It is not, 

 however, the case that all freshly emerged specimens are more strongly 

 pilose. Those now emerging from cocoons obtained in Scilly are not 

 abnormally hairy. 



During the early part of the month it Avas noticed that the sexes, 

 v/ere about evenly represented ; but later males ajjpeared to become 

 scarcer. On July 24th 22 specimens were collected from a small 

 bi-amble-bush, all females but one. Only one pair was observed in cop. 

 during the whole time. Whether these females had oviposited or not 

 was unfortunately not ascertained. 



On the same date a breeding colony was discovered under some 

 granite boulders partly overgrown with grass and thrift, the boulders- 

 being piled together on an open tract of grassy ground close to the sea. 

 On turning over one of them, the earth beneath was found to be loose- 

 and friable, containing many loose fragments of granite, and largely 

 composed of the pellets of excrement discharged by Getonia larvae. 

 In rummaging amongst this loose material some young larvae were 

 flrst found, apparently not long hatched, and later a number of full- 

 grown larvae and cocoons, some of which contained the white, i-ather- 

 flaccid larvae awaiting pupation, others containing Ww honey-yellow 

 pupae. Turning over other adjacent stones showed that these conditions. 



* I have taken this and various other forms in the same locality at Vizzavona, Corsica. — G. C. C. 



