254 THE entomologist's record. 



this material it is self-evident. The two species with which it shows 

 the closest alliance are L. palUni^ and L. strain iin-a, nearer to the latter 

 than to the former in shape of wing, scaling, and markings, and nearer 

 to the former in structure of thorax and no clear development of pro- 

 thoracic crest. The scaling is exceedingly smooth and silky-looking, 

 as much so as is that of Calamia phra(/)iiitidis. The main comparative 

 features between this species and L. pollens, relating both to structure 

 and habits, are summarised by Mr. Mathew as follows : — 



1. — Leucania favicolnr appears from three to four weeks in advance 

 of L. pcdlcns. 



2. — Its general appearance when alive, at sugar, is very different. 

 L. favicolor generally sits on the sugar with wings horizontal and 

 quivering, is very shy, and flies off the moment the light is thrown on 

 it, so that one has to be quick in order to secure it in the net as it flies 

 oft'. L. pallcns sits with wings closed over its body, and is not shy. 



3. — L. favicolor is a very much larger and more robust insect than 

 L. palleiis. 



4. — The forewings of L. favicolor are much broader, smoother in 

 texture, and without the raised veins of L. pallens. 



5. — The larvfe are more robust and of a ruddy colour, and are more 

 like those of L. lithaniijria than those of L. ]iallens. 



6. — The moths reared this year were from eggs laid by three differ- 

 ent females, and not one of the moths bred in anyway resembles L. 

 pallens. 



7. — The variation runs into distinct aberrations, which, although 

 in a sense parallel, are entirely different from those of L. pallens. 



It may be interesting to add that the species may be partially 

 double-brooded, as, on the night of August 27th, Mr. Mathew took 

 four beautiful fresh specimens at sugar. This, he considers, is prob- 

 ably due to the fine Avarm summer we have had. These examples are 

 a trifle smaller than those of the spring brood, which fact, probably, is to 

 be accounted for by a shortage of food, for the salt-marsh where the 

 species occurs has been completely burnt up, instead of being clothed, 

 as in most seasons, with a luxuriant vegetation. 



Mr. Mathew proposes to exhibit a selection of specimens of this 

 species at one of the meetings of the Entomological Society of London 

 to be held this autumn. 



Notes towards a life = history of Thestor ballus {jrith three plates). 



By T. A. CHAPMAN, M.D. 



Last spring (1903) Mr. W. H. St. Quintm sent some eggs of T/iestor 

 ballus to Mr. Tonge, who obtained photographs of them (pi. xi., fig. 2) 

 and preserved larvae in the first stage (pi. xii., figs. 1-2), from which 

 the description here recorded is taken. These larvae unfortunately 

 died. Later Mr. Powell sent me some small larvae, which I received on 

 May IcSth, 1903. They were accompanied by some scraps of Anthi/llis 

 tetraplnjlliis, which soon were useless as food. Mr. Powell most kindly 

 sent also, in a separate parcel, several living plants, but as the Post 

 Office chose to detain these for ten days, they also were useless, though 

 two of the plants recovered in the garden, and flowered later in the 

 season. I, therefore, was forced to give the young larvft Lotus comi- 

 culatus, and this appeared, both at once and for the rest of their exist- 



