18S0.1 111 



I gathered a quantity of Impatiens noli-me-tangere, and upon opening the bag 

 yesterday I found a full-fed larva of this rare species ; also a couple of Flusia larva 

 (small), which I think must be P. hractea. I shall no doubt find more larvse when 

 I carefully search the plant. — E. Gr. Meek, 5G, Brompton Road, London, S.W. : 

 September 3rd, 1886. 



Occurrence in West Sussex of Cosmopteryx Schmidiella, Frey, a species new 

 to Britain. — So far as I know, none of the beautiful moths of tlie genus Cosmop- 

 teryx have as yet been recorded from Mr. H. C. Watson's vice-county of West 

 Sussex, although the food-plants of all the known British species occur therein 

 abundantly. It is with the greater pleasure, therefore, that I am able to an- 

 nounce the finding of C. Schmidiella in the larval state in some numbers last week 

 a few miles from Worthing. The insect seems to frequent plants of Vicia sepium 

 growing in low damp hedgerows. When the larvae are scarce they feed chiefly in 

 the lower leaves of the plant ; when they are numerous they attack also the upper 

 ones. It appears that even when the insect occurs somewhat freely, it is very local 

 in its distribution, and that one may search a quantity of the vetch before meeting 

 with any success. 



A full life-history of the species has been published by Mr. Stainton (Nat. Hist. 

 Tin., xii, 30), and he has also kindly told me that tliere is no doubt as to the 

 identity of my larviE. — W. H. B. Fletchee, Fairlawn, Worthing : Sept. \Ztli, 1886. 



On the .ipecijic distinctness of Tephrosia crepuscularia, W. V., and hiundularia, 

 Esp. — With every respect for the great discrimination and good judgment of Mr. 

 Barrett, I must demur to the conclusions at which he arrives respecting these two 

 insects. He appears to me to rely too much on the difficulty of naming an extreme 

 form of either species, and to take too little notice of the marked natural difPerences 

 between them. To put the case briefly, crepuscularia emerges in March or April, 

 hiundularia in May or June. They are very similar in colour and markings, but 

 crepuscularia is browner than its near relative, and can be distinguished by that 

 character, which is tolerably constant. The offspring of both insects in favourable 

 seasons or localities feed up and emerge the same year, or part of the brood does. 

 This second brood, in both species, presents the same characteristics as the first, 

 slightly modified only as is usual in second appearances. Both vary more or less in 

 intensity of colour, pale crepuscularia approaching normal hiundularia, dark 

 hiundularia approaching normal crepusctdai-ia. Extreme forms of both occur 

 that may be said to overlap the other, rendering the identification of a single 

 abnormal specimen rather difficult. But selected specimens, or the series found 

 in the best cabinets are no true basis for argument, and conclusions founded 

 on such an illustration are likely to be erroneous. To arrive at a correct conclusion, 

 series should be examined as they occur in nature ; those occurring at one time and 

 place being put together and compared with others taken at another time or place, 

 or both. Mr. Barrett lays stress on the fact that he could not name some specimens 

 sent him by Professor Zeller, but tliese specimens were selected as a puzzle, and it is 

 clear from the quotation given that Zeller himself could separate the two forms, 



