1875.] 1G3 



tint, but, as it approaches maturity, the wings appear a davkisli grey-brown, and show 

 the darker outlined central spot ; the eyes also become of the same dark coloiir, the 

 thorax and legs light brown, the abdominal segments whitish-flesh colour transversely 

 barred with light brown ; there is also a faint dorsal line of dusky spots, and a light 

 brown spot on either side of each of the thi-ee segments before the last ; the spiracles 

 are of a light orange-brown, ringed at the base with blackish. — Wm. Buckler, 

 Emsworth : September 21s^, 1875. 



On Xysmatndoma melanella and the case of its larva. — When Mr. Harding's notes 

 on X. melanella appeared in 1869 (Yol. vi, pp. 91-93), I must confess I was some- 

 what startled, for variation of species gives trouble enough, but if any insect were 

 proved to be capable of shewing itself under two such totally different forms, not 

 only species, but well marked genera would have to be abandoned, and we should 

 at last arrive at the result of no species and no genera. I therefore hoped we 

 should have heard something more on the subject, and in the meantime made some 

 investigations myself. Has not Mr. Harding confused the cases of two distinct 

 species, of which the imagos are very different, though the cases are somewhat 

 similar ? He describes the cases as " round, slightly curved, and generally green." 

 Now, all the cases from which I have bred X. melanella, were slightly curved at the 

 mouth, where the case is circular, but the hinder end is decidedly three sided, and 

 the case has, when viewed laterally, a truncated appearance. The colour seems to be 

 always green, and when the perfect insect emerges, the pupa skin is left sticking out. 

 From these cases I have bred winged specimens of X. melanella of both sexes, but 

 nothing else. On the same trees, however, on which these cases were found, there 

 were also cases about the same size, but circular for the whole length, and pointed 

 at the hinder end. They are not always green, but frequently show circular bands 

 of green and grey, and the pupa skin is always left inside. From these latter, I 

 have bred only apterous females of the genus Solenohia, and nothing else. I have 

 sent cases of each kind to Mr. Harding, but I believe he still holds to his former 

 opinion, though to myself, the differences noted above are quite conclusive as to the 

 complete separation between the two species. — W. C.Botd, Cheshunt: Nov. 1st, 1875. 



[We fear we never laid much stress ourselves on Mr. Harding's supposed dis- 

 covery of two forms of Xyi^matodoma melanella ; we perfectly recollect, that when 

 first Elachista poce was bred — it was reputed a form of E. cerusella, — simply because 

 simultaneously eliminated from the same plant. — Eds.] 



ColeopJiorafuscocuprella.—On the 15th of this month, the weather looking a 

 little more favourable, I determined to go after Asychna proJii()ella at Witherslack, 

 but the rain unfortunately again set in when I was within half-an-hour's walk of the 

 coveted spot, and I was obliged to fall back on Grange-ovcr-Sands, where I had to 

 wait several hours before any train was available. So I turned into the woods among 

 the yew-trccs, and by beating them into my umbrella, I filled all the boxes I had 

 with me, putting in some cases two or three specimens in a box. I filled some 

 thirty boxes with Lyoneiia Clerckella, the brown form being as six to one of the 

 white form. Among the lot were one Gracilaria phasianipenneUa,io\xv Zelleria 

 insiynipentiella, red form and yellow, and one specimen partly red and the remainder 

 canary colour : Gracilaria clonyella and Corisciuni cuculipenntiluM also put in an 

 appearance. 



