1884.] 259 



As the process of unlading was being proceeded with whilst I was on board, the 

 opportunity thus afforded me for watching the insects was turned to account. The 

 cotton-cake was packed in bags, and as these were removed, numbers of the moths 

 continually flew through the hatchways into the open air. They did not fly far, 

 but settled down on various objects, or on the deck, apparently not appreciating the 

 diS'erence of tempei-ature — for it was cold outside as opposed to the unnatural and 

 abnormal heat of the hold ; at any rate, they appeared in a very short time to 

 become benuaibed, and lying on their backs, showed, even when touched, scarcely 

 any signs of life. There is not much doubt that the heat to which I have alluded — 

 wliich would for the most part be generated by the wet cargo — had caused the moths 

 to emerge from their pupag much earlier than they would have done under ordinary 

 circumstances. Upon examining the bags, I found them to be covered with cocoons, 

 most of which were empty ; I have also since been informed that " white maggots " 

 (by which I presume larvae are meant) had been observed on the outside of the bags 

 as they were being stowed away in the warehouses, and a closer examination has 

 shown that larvae were at work amongst the cake inside the bags, and I think 

 there can be little doubt that these larvae were those of the two species which form 

 the subject of these lines. The cargo has been deposited in two warehouses, about 

 half a mile distant from each other, and as I understand that the cotton-cake is not 

 likely to be disposed of for some few months, both E. passuJeUa and E. ficulella 

 will probably have good opportunities for obtaining a sound footing here. Two years 

 ago, the former species {E. passulella) was plentiful in and about the dock Company's 

 warehouses, where it had doubtless been introduced ; but last year, although a sharp 

 look out was kept for it, I could find no trace of the species. I suppose the cake, or 

 whatever the larvae might be feeding upon at tlie time, was removed from the district, 

 and that consequently E. passulella disappeared, or at the least, became scarce. — 

 Edwd. a. Atmoee, 3, Haylett Terrace, Exton's Eoad, Lynn : February 2\st, 1884. 



Blatta americana. — Amongst the cargo of cotton-cake recently imported from 

 America to which 1 have just alluded, were observed numbers of Blatta 

 americana (American cockroach) in various stages of development ; some of 

 them were very small, others had reached the full size, but were yet of a whitish 

 colour, whilst not a few had assumed the characteristic reddish colour of the fully 

 developed insect, and were exceedingly active. I believe I am right in stating that 

 this insect is far more destructive in America than the common and familiar 

 B. orientalis is in this country ; but although introduced here in such plenty, I 

 consider it probable that our climate will prove unsuitable, as it has done hitherto, 

 for the increase or naturalization of this peet. — Id. 



Tortrices, ^c, in South Wales and Sutherlandshire. — In the autumn of 1880, 

 I spent a few weeks in the neighbourhood of Brecon, and collected a few moths 

 there, including Camptogramma fluviata, Crambus falsellus, Peronea perplexana, and. 

 Ephippiphora tetragonana. Peronea sponsana {favillaceana, of Stainton) was 

 abundant in the hornbeam hedges, even where no beech could be found, and it seems 

 not impossible that its larva may feed on hornbeam occasionally. I have never 

 found it, however, among hornbeam in this neighbourhood, although our hedges are 



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