90 [September, 



Captain Shelley, I was mucli pleased at taking a full-fed larva of A. alni from sweet 

 chestnut. The larva was at rest on the npper-side of a leaf, and, with the sun 

 shining on it, presented a beautiful and conspicuous object. — W. K. Mann, Clifton, 

 Bristol : Aitgnst 17ih, 1882. 



Variation in Zygcena fiVipendula. — I have made further enquiry respecting the 

 varieties of ZygcBnafilipendulcE, mentioned in the June No. of this Magazine, of the 

 Rev. C. Wilkinson, by whom they were reared. He has collected all over his 

 parish — Castlemartin — for the last ten years, and fully agrees with nie that Z. 

 trifolii is not to be found within some miles of the locality in which he collected 

 these larva. Therefore, hybridism can have nothing to do with the present case of 

 variation. (I may add that, as a matter of private opinion, that I have no belief 

 ■whatever in the — supposed — effect of hybridism in producing varieties. I am quite 

 aware that where insects swann cases of abnormal union are occasionally observed, 

 but all the experience to which I have any access is opposed to the belief that 

 perfect insects, in any but the rarest cases, result from these unions). 



As suggested by Mr. Briggs {ante, p. 43), the specimen without the sixth spot 

 is a $ , and the spot is only very faintly indicated beneath ; the other specimen — with 

 indistinct sixth spot — is a $ , and the spot is distinct beneath. — Chas. G. Baeeett, 

 Pembroke : 12th July, 1882. 



Destruction of Lepidoptera hy rain. — A very short time ago I had occasion to 

 remark incidentally on the destruction to larvae caused by heavy rain. An instance 

 of its effect on the perfect insects has just pressed itself most strongly and un- 

 pleasantly vipon me ; I suppose that when much ice is reported in the North 

 Atlantic, these islands generally are sure to be visited with abundant and heavy 

 storms of rain, but this west coast most decidedly bears the heaviest brunt of them. 

 This has been the case lately, the rain has come down in such torrents that insect 

 life could barely endure it. After a series of these storms, the 29th of last month 

 proved a lovely day, and I seized the opportunity of passing through Canastar 

 Wood to look for a few of the ordinary wood-flying Geometrce, which were wanted 

 for a local museum. The residt was nil. As far as I could judge, every Geometra 

 was destroyed except a few that had just emerged. Even Melanippe montanata had 

 disappeared from the wood, though still common in the sheltered lanes. There 

 were a few Camptogramma hilineata, but only a few, and they were quite fine ; two 

 Cidariu populata also turned up, equally fine ; and I found one really interesting 

 species — Eup>ithecia deliliata, two specimens, just out ; the first flew from among 

 Vaccinium, but I obtained the second by following Mr. Birchall's advice of long ago, 

 " beat holly hard." This is a new locality for this very local species. — Id. 



Odour emitted hy the male of Hepiahts hectns. — When at Canastar Wood, as 

 already mentioned, I found at early dusk ITepialus hectus, evidently just emerged, 

 and in most perfect condition, flying in plenty. As it is extremely local in this 

 country, and as I wanted series for the museum, and one or two other collections, I 

 secured as many as I could during the few minutes of its flight — some forty males 

 and four females. To the fortunate circumstance of taking so large a number 



