1878 ] 37 



Abraxas, Pantlierodes, and Rhyparia, conclucling with a few remarks upon the 

 modern views of protective resemblances, in which he mentions the fact that I 

 named the common Japanese moth Vithora agrionides, in the " Annals and Maga- 

 zine " for 1875, and he says : " moreover, he informs us that it ' mimics Fhalcena 

 " Stratonice, Cramer ! ' without clearly informing us whether he grounds this con- 

 " elusion on objects like what Cramer represents, or only upon the figure." 



In my description of Vithora agrionides, I do not anywhere say that it mimics 

 P. Stratonice, but that it " resembles Cystidia Stratonice, Cramer, excepting in the 

 " body ;" and I add, in a foot-note, " Cystidia is probably a mimic of Vithora :" 

 this I still believe to be the case ; for, although I have examined many examples of 

 Vithora agrionides, and have not hitherto seen Cramer's insect, it is well-known that 

 in most instances of mimicry, the pattern is by far more numerous in individuals 

 than the copy, so that thei'e is every probability that the species will yet come. 



If there were no other differences but tliose which Cramer figures and describes 

 in the body of his species, I should still hold that Vithora belonged to a distinct 

 family ; but the pattern of the wings, though very similar, differs as much as in any 

 of the numerous parallel species of the genera Heliconiiis and Melinaa amongst the 

 butterflies. 



I cannot for a moment agree with Mr. Snellen as to the afiiuities of Vithora, 

 the antennae alone would at once decide their position to be in the family AgaristidcB ; 

 nor is there any reason (excepting that in colour, it nearly agrees with one or two 

 species of Abraxas,* which are mimickers of it) for referring it to the Zerenidce : 

 the whole structure of the body is essentially that of Agarista, and the veining of 

 the wings is quite normal. — A. Gr. Butlee, British Museum : May, 1878. 



Description of the larva of JSubolia bipunctaria. — On August 6th, 1875, I re- 

 ceived eggs of this species from Mr. A. E. Hudd, of Clifton, Bristol. They were 

 globular, very glossy, with a semi-translucent appearance ; pale straw-colour. Before 

 hatching, which event took place on the 20th of the same month, they changed to 

 lead-colour, but still retained their glossy character. The newly emerged larvffi were 

 slate-colour, the head brown. They fed on the common white Dutch clover until 

 autumn, when they hibernated, feeding again in the following spring. By June the 

 8th, they were nearly full-grown, when I took the following description : — Length, 

 about an inch, and stout in proportion ; head rather narrower than the second seg- 

 ment, rounded at the sides, but the face somewhat flat ; there is a slight notch on the 

 crown. Body roughly cylindrical, and of nearly uniform width throughout, tapering 

 only a very little towards the anal extremity ; segmental divisions well marked, and 

 each segment is also divided by transverse ribs into numerous sections ; trapezoidal 

 tubercles raised, each emitting a short hair. 



Ground colour of the dorsal area pale yellowish-grey with slight green tinge ; 

 head very pale yellowish-brown, dotted and freckled with darker brown. Dorsal 

 stripe conspicuous, dark green, on each side of it is another much narrower, and con- 

 sequently less distinct line, of the same colour ; there is also a rather indistinct 

 double line above the spiracles : spiracles rust-colour, each followed anteriorly by an 

 intensely black dot ; tubercles also black. The ground of the ventral surface is much 



* Can Mr. Snellen have got the Abraxas instead of the Vithora ? Compare Felder's figure 

 (Reise der Nov. Lep., pi. cxxix, fig. 29; ; this species occurs also in Japan, and is not uncommon. 

 —A. G. B. 



