258 [April, 



Notes on Lepidoptera in Roxburghshire in 1883. — The season of 1883 "was not 

 in this district a prolific one in Lepidoptera, either in the larval or perfect state. 

 There were, however, as seems always the case, a few particular species in as great 

 force as usual, and in one or two instances, notably, JSupithecia indigata and 

 pyqmcEata were even more numerous tlian I have seen them. Noctuce, during the 

 summer and autumn months, were in small numbers. I again took Tryphcena suh- 

 sequa in fine condition, also Noctua festiva, Dianthaecia capsincola, and Cucullia 

 itmbi-atica, not having seen the latter for some years ; and, in the beginning of August, 

 when trying the effect of light at my bedroom window, using the mirror as a re- 

 flector, I was agreeably surprised by a fine specimen of Plusia hractea coming in 

 and settling on the window-blind, its two burnished spots shining with gem-like 

 brilliancy in the reflected light. I need not say I at once closed down the window 

 and so made an easy capture. I took Coremia munitata in the beginning of August, 

 in fresh condition, in one of the wildest parts of the Cheviot range ; apparently a 

 second brood. Among the Micros, I took the following, viz. : Scoparia pyralella 

 and murana, Eiipoecilia atricapilaiia, Argyresthia reiinella, Gadartella, and arceu- 

 thina, Cedestis farinatella, Coleophora alhicosta and artemisiella, Elachista apici- 

 punctella and atricomella. — A. Elliot, Samieston, Jedburgh, N.B. : Feb. 215^,1884. 



Instinct of locality in Lepidoptera. — In the month of July last, when passing 

 alongside a wire fence, and when near its termination, I noticed on one of the posts, 

 just at the point where the top wire is stapled in, a specimen of Xylophasia, polyo- 

 don settled, and as it seemed a fine and peculiarly shaded one, I boxed it, but after 

 bringing it home, allowed it to escape. Having occasion to pass the same fence a few 

 days afterwards, I again noticed in my belief the same specimen settled, not only on 

 the satne post, but on the exact spot as formerly, close to the staple of the upper 

 wire. I think it would be interesting to hear of any similar experience ; at any rate, 

 it may serve as a suggestion to niake trial of this instinct, as I have not hitherto 

 heard of a similar instance. — Id. 



Importation of Ephestia passulella and E. ficulella at King's Lynn. — On 

 February 6th, I was informed that numbers of small moths were flying about the 

 Schooner " Ellen Holt," of Grimsby, which had just put into our dock with a cargo 

 of decorticated cotton-cake from Galveston, United States (Texas). A few of the 

 moths were also brought me on the same day, and I at once thought them to be 

 E. passulella, but, subsequently, noticing that they varied considerably, a few of 

 them were sent to Mr. C. G. Barrett, from whom I learn that there are two species, 

 viz., E. ficulella and E. passulella. On the 7th, the day after the arrival of the 

 yessel here, I paid it a visit with the view of finding out how far the statements 

 made to me about these moths were true : the moths were there, and not in 

 hundreds oidy, but in thousands. From a fair amount of questions put to the 

 crew, I obtained the following information : — " Tliat when the vessel left Galveston, 

 having been 63 days on her voyage here, no moths were noticed amongst the cargo 

 or any part of the ship ; that whilst travci'sing the Atlantic a severe gale was 

 encountered, and water found its way to the hold, thereby wetting the cargo and 

 causing it to heat ; that upon arrival here the hatchways were opened, when a cloud 

 of these moths immediutely flew out, settling on everything and everybody near." 



