90 [September, 



is in motion, being hidden at other times in the segmental fohls ; on the side of the 

 third and twelfth segments, situated in the broad dark stripe above mentioned, is a 

 characteristic ocellated spot, whitish-grey with black centre, bearing a fine pale hair, 

 longer than that emitted by the ordinary tnbercvdar dots distributed along the sides 

 and belly ; the spiracles are whitisli-drab, ringed with blackish ; the anterior legs 

 are reddish-brown, the ventral legs spotted and tipped with dark brown. 



In the two smaller examples, the broad blackish-brown stripe has a line of reddish- 

 drab blotches through the middle of its course, though but a faint trace only re- 

 mained of them in the largest example. — Wm. Buckler, Emsworth : July 2Zrd, 1873. 



Asychna profugella hred. — Some four years ago, I met with this species at 

 Witherslack flying briskly in the afternoon sunshine round a yew tree. Last 

 September, when larva hunting, I noticed lots of the common gentian growing near 

 this yew tree, and though I could find nothing feeding on the gentian, I collected at 

 random a quantity of the seed-heads, and have now bred from them nine specimens 

 of Asychna 'profugella. Judging from this experience, it might not be a bad plan to 

 to collect seed-heads of other plants at random, and to note the results. — J. B. IIodg- 

 KiNSON, 15, Spring Bank, Preston : July \Q,th, 1873. 



l^ote concerning the metamorphoses of Batrachedra prceangusta. — Excepting a 

 vague rumour that the larva lives between united poplar leaves, I am not aware that 

 anything has been recorded concerning the transformations of this curious and toler- 

 ably common little moth. It is abundant on the trunks of ' black Italian ' poplar 

 and Populus alba in my colleague Dr. Knaggs' garden at Kentish Town ; and I 

 have thei-e more than once sought for its larva without success, though no one can 

 possibly doubt that it feeds upon poplar in some way or other. I am, however, able 

 to give information regarding its pupal stage. On the 30th ult., the moths were 

 swarming on the trees, and, upon closely inspecting the trunks and branches, I 

 found indications of little webs spun over small crevices in the bark, but so covered 

 with dust and minute lichens with which the bark was also clothed, that only the closest 

 scrutiny revealed them. I thought a clue presented itself, and sliced off a number 

 of morsels of bark upon -which there were indications of these webs. To-day a speci- 

 men of B. fraangusta is in the box among the chips. This settles one stage in the 

 history of the creature, but the larva and its mode of life still remain to be dis- 

 covered. The webs are the more diflicult to find because the puparium is not 

 partially projected when the moth emerges. — R. McLachlan, Lewisham : %th 

 August, 1873. 



Occurrence of Megalomus hirtus near Aberdeen. — -To-day I received an insect 

 from Mr. J. W. H. Traill, of Old Aberdeen, accompanied by the following letter : — 

 "Enclosed in the quill is a specimen taken by me on Saturday (June 20th), a 

 " few miles south of Aberdeen, which appears to agree with the description of 

 " Megalonnts hirtus. If it be that species, and therefore of interest to you, I hope 

 " you will accept it." Mr. Traill had quite correctly determined the insect, which 

 is a small individual of its kind. Possibly only one or two other British examples 

 are in collections ; the original was taken by the late Mr. J. C. Dale, atDuddingston, 



