110 [October, 



a large number of English Lepidopterists do not see this work, I have thought that 

 it might be useful to abstract from Mr. Moore's paper such parts as concern the 

 arrangement of the British species of this group : (p. 9), L. ruiricollis is the type 

 of the genus Atolmis of Hiibner (1816), -which has precedence over Stephens' Gnophria, 

 (1829) ; (p. 14), L. quadra is the type of Lithoxia of Fabricius (Ent. Syst. Suppl., 

 p. 459, 1798) ; (p. 16), Collita is a new genus with L. griseola for its type, and inclu- 

 ding L. complanula and stramineola (?, also complana) ; (p. 16), Katha is a new 

 genus, including L. helvola ; (p. 17), L. caniola is the type of Eilema of Hiibner 

 (1816) ; (p. 18), L. aureola is the type of the genus Systmpha of Hiibner (1816) ; 

 (p. 27), L. muscerda is the type of the genus Pelosia of Hiibner (1816), which takes 

 precedence over Samera of Wallengren. Differential characters, founded chiefly on 

 the neuration of the wings, are given for all these and many other genera, the family 

 LithosiidcB being divided into two sub-families, Hypsinoe (all exotic) and Lithosiince, 

 which latter again is divided into seven minor groups. — W. A. FoEBES, St. John's 

 College, Cambridge : August 15th, 1878. 



Food of Tinea fcrruginella. — The last week in August, 1876, 1 obtained a quantity 

 of Artemisia absinthium (wormwood), and as it was gathered it was placed in a linen 

 bag, for the purpose of obtaining the larvse of Ciicullia absinthii; the following week 

 I searched it and found three ; it was at once replaced, tied up tightly, hung up and 

 remained until the 21st February following. I then searched it, with the view of 

 finding Eupithecia pnpse, but was disappointed. During the search about half-a-dozen 

 Tinea fsrruginella flew out, which I captured ; I then collected all the cases I could 

 find ; some were in pupa, others in the larva-state and feeding. Mr. C. Gr. Barrett, 

 to whom some of the cases were sent, in a communication to me, says, "it was a 

 " welcome and startling sight to find it cleverly clearing out the seeds from every 

 " flower-head of the dry wormwood." The problem — on what does the larva of 

 Tinea ferruginella feed ? — is at last solved, so far that it is a seed-feeder, it may not 

 always select absinthium, for I am informed that it has been taken where that plant 

 is not known to grow, and, as my fi'iend suggests, may it not feed on other composite 

 plants ? or is it confined to the species of Artemisia ? — G. C. Bigneli, Stonehouse, 

 Plymouth : Qth September, 1878. 



Gracilaria phasianipennella. — This species we have generally only obtained as 

 hibernated specimens flying in the sunshine in March and April, although Mr. 

 Threlfall and I have long sought industriously for the larvse on Polygonum, and 

 Eumex. Mr. Threlfall was searching for the larvae at Witherslack, in the middle of 

 August, with the usual result, when Mr. Murray (only a beginner), M'ho was with 

 him, found amongst some Polygonum, growing in a ditch, some cones of tliis species. 

 Mr. Murray forwarded some of these cones to me, and on my opening the box 

 phasianipennella flew to the window, and also several ichneumons. — J. B. HoDG- 

 KINSON, 10, Torr Street, Buxton, Derbyshire : September 1st, 1878. 



Lepidoptera at Wicken. — On July 22nd last, I went, accompanied by the Eev. T. 

 W. Daltry, M.A., of Madeley, to the above locality, and we remained there collecting 

 until August 3rd : for the time of the year we were fairly succcssfid. Of the now 

 rare Orgyia coenosa we took five fine specimens at light in the Fen. Nonagria 

 IJelmanni was abundant, and we each secured a fine series. A few Aglossa cuprealis 



