VARIATION. 327 



phlocus lionfiatiiliis, etc. < 'ilhnits lateralis was dug out of the buiTOWS 

 ■of Blediva hicurnia, on which it was no doubt preying. — W. H. Bennett, 

 F.E.S., 15, Wellington Place, Hastings. November IStli, 1904. 



J^CIENTIFIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Stridulation or the male of Euprepia pudica. — The male of 

 Ku])repia pudica is capable of making a shrill whirring noise, very 

 much like that made by a certain alpine grasshopper, but more regular 

 and continuous. When out at night (in September) I have often heard 

 this noise, but have, until recently, put it down to some nocturnal 

 grasshopper or flying cricket. A few nights ago, however, I was out, 

 and one of these supposed grasshoppers came flying round me, ap- 

 parently attracted by the light. It had a whitish moth-like look, and 

 I struck at it with my net, but missed it once or twice. It came back 

 presently, whirring away as usual, and this time I caught it, and was 

 very much astonished to find a (? E. pudica in my net. Thinking I 

 might have taken the E. pudica accidentally and missed the grass- 

 hopper, I caught several more as they came whirring round, and, in 

 «very case, found them to be $ E. pudica, and some even went on 

 stridulating in the net for some seconds after being caught. In one 

 place three or four were observed flying round together, making a 

 great noise. 1 stayed at the place about fifteen minutes and caught 

 two of the moths. Evidently there must have been a ? not faraway. 

 The noise can be heard about seventy metres away, if not more, and is 

 kept up for thirty seconds or more at a time, while the moth is flying, 

 but, so far as I can make out, the moth can stop it and still continue 

 to fly, so that it is not made by the beating of the wings alone. I 

 examined them when 1 got home and found a glassy-looking apparatus 

 at the base of the thorax beneath, on each side. The appendage is 

 not unlike French gelatine in thin sheet, or mica, and is crackling to 

 touch. If the moth be taken between the finger and thumb, and the 

 thorax pinched, a crackling sound is produced, but it is not nearly so 

 loud as that made by the moth when flying, Avhich is certainly a 

 loud one and very penetrating. I do not think the frenulum 

 arrangement can have anything to do with the production of the 

 sound, but it may, although I should rather think that the legs may 

 be rubbed against the glossy drums, or the abdomen moved up and 

 ■down, so squeezing and releasing them alternately. I did not keep a 

 moth alive, which I ought to have done, in order the better to observe 

 it ; if I get any more I will not kill them. — H. Powell, 1, Rue Mireille, 

 Hyeres. 



British specimens of Hydrotaea wanted. — I propose to publish 

 iis soon as possible an account of the British species of Hydrotaea 

 (Diptera — Fam. Antltomyiidae), and would be grateful if readers of this 

 magazine would send me for examination any specimens belonging to 

 this genus which happen to be in their possession. All help in this 

 way will be fully acknowledged and the material returned labelled with 

 specific naiiics, as soon as practicable. — Percy H. Grimshaw, F.E.8., 

 Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh. 



W^ A R I A T I O^N. 



(3n variation in the larva of Okgyia antiqua. — With reference to 

 Dr. Chapman's "query concerning the variation of the larva of Oryyia 



