1878.] 39 



propoi'tion, and the body tapers a little just towards the hinder part : in colour the 

 head is grevish-brown marked with blackish-brown, the plate behind it is similar, 

 and both shining ; the body lightish dull earthy-grey with a rather darker dorsal 

 line, the spots lightish brown and glossy, the larger trapezoidal pairs transversely 

 roundish-ovate, the smaller pairs rather linear and each encompassed with a faintly 

 paler outline ; a row of somewhat tri-lobed spots along the side, and under them the 

 small round black spiracles, and beneath them again other rows of paler and longi- 

 tudinally ovate spots ; every spot having within it, nearer the outer margin than the 

 middle, a small black dot bearing a fine hair : on the front part of the thirteenth 

 segment the two spots are united into one larger than usual, a few minute dark dots 

 are on the shining anal plate ; the ventral and anal legs tipped with brown hooks. 



Yarieties occur with dark brown heads, and plates on the second segment ; but 

 principally towards the last (when about to pupate) these parts and the anal plate 

 grow darker, and the rest of the body lighter of a dirty yellowish tint. 



The cocoon, constructed as before described, is of a somewhat oval figure, its 

 longer diameter about five-eighths of an inch, and shorter diameter one-fourth- 

 The pupa is a little over three-eighths of an inch in length, and one-eighth in diametei* 

 at the thickest part, its form is quite ordinary though the wing-covers are rather long 

 in proportion, and from them the abdomen tapers to abluntish rounded-off tip ; it is 

 of a warm brown colour, and glossy, with the abdominal tip blackish-brown. — • 

 William Bucklee, Emsworth : Jane bth, 1878. 



Capture of Argi/rolepia (or EvpcecJlia) MussehJiana near Pembroke.— On the 

 2Vth ultimo, when I was examining a patch of Genista tinctoria, for larvee feeding in 

 the shoots, a small EupceciUa started up and was secured. It belonged evidently to 

 the group which includes Geyeriana and udana, but I could not then identify it. 

 The ground was almost covered with Inula dysenterica, so notulana might reasonably 

 be expected, but this insect was too yellow and too glossy. By long and hai'd work 

 in the afternoon I secured three more, and on examining them at home was astonished 

 and delighted to find that I had re-discovered the long-lost Mussehliana (see ante, 

 vol. xi, p. 133). 



I know of no record of its occurrence in this country since Weaver took his few 

 specimens in Devonshire many years ago. Some of these were placed in Mr. 

 Doubleday's collection, and I expect Mr. Allis had, and partially distributed, the rest. 



It does not now intend, I fear, to become a common species, for I have seized 

 every available opportunity of looking for it since, with but very limited success. — 

 Chas. Gt. Baeeett, Pembroke : June IQth, 1878. 



On the distinctive characters of Penthina po^tremana, Z. — In the June No. (p. 

 14) Mr. Hodgkinson very briefly recorded his discovery of the larva of Penthina 

 postremana, Zell., in the stems of wild balsam and the rearing of the perfect insects ; 

 but I think a few further particulars may be of interest, especially as the species, from 

 its secluded locality in Cumberland, cannot well be of recent introduction, but is most 

 likely an ancient inhabitant, perhaps far more widely distributed in this country in 

 the (good) old times of undrained marshes and fens and extensive morasses than it 

 now is. It is one of the most beautiful species in the genus, and a short description 

 may be useful. 



