272 ^^^"y- 



njocallj common in currant warehouses. An obscure species, pro- 

 bably overlooked. I have named it from its food (PassuJce corinthiacw), 

 dried currants. 



During the summer and autumn of 1874, I was closely tied 

 by business to London, especially to the East End, and naturally 

 turned my attention to sucb species of Lepidoptera as might possibly be 

 within reach. Profiting by hints received from Mr. Howard Vaughan, 

 and introductions from other kind friends, I spent such time as I could 

 spare in investigating some of the extensive grocers' fruit warehouses 

 in the city, more especially in the hope of meeting with the rare and 

 little known Mellssohlaptes cephalonica. On July 31st, I met with two 

 specimens of this species in a warehouse window ; but, as no more 

 appeared for a considerable time, it seems possible that these might 

 have been stragglers of an early brood, previously unnoticed. At the 

 same time Ephestia elutella was out in swarms. 



On August 19th, E. ficuleUa appeared in numbers with a few 

 interpunctella, and remained, I believe, on the wing all that month, 

 but circumstances prevented me from looking for them till Sept. 21st, 

 w^hen I found IlelissohJapies ceplialonica out in some plenty and in 

 very fine condition, nearly all the specimens then being males, the 

 females making their appearance later. This species continued out 

 accompanied by a late brood of Epiiestia elutella and of E. inter- 

 punctella till the end of October. In this month also appeared a late 

 brood of E.Jiculella very sparingly. 



I first noticed the more obscure E. passulella on October 10th, 

 flying among the swarms of elutella, and it continued to appear freely 

 till near the end of October. 



Eor E. Jicclla I did not find a favoured locality till too late for 

 it to be of any use ; but, at the end of October, in a warehouse in which 

 rough cork had been stored for a considerable time, I found the 

 remains of many specimens in the spiders' webs. Early in the month 

 casual specimens occurred in the fruit warehouses and in the streets. 



This last species seems very sluggish, and I never saw it fly, but 

 E. elutella and E. passulella are exceedingly active and lively, flying 

 freely in the afternoon as soon as a lamp is brought to bear on their 

 retreats. Indeed, the air often seemed alive with these species and 

 interjyunctella, — all thi'ce having a similar hovering flight. The flight 

 of M. cephalonica is quite different when disturbed, as it darts 

 down in a zig-zag, and almost immediately settles again. Towards 

 evening the males run about, quivering their wings in a peculiar 

 manner. This species shows wonderful skill in concealment by 

 selecting the projections and inequalities of rough beams, to 



