212 [February, 



prevented this. I have little doubt that the cocoons appertained to this species, 

 and that the larvae fed on grass, like many of the same genus. A few specimens 

 have also been taken by Dr. Buchanan White at Braemar. 



This is not the Nematus palUpes of St. Fargeaii and Stephens. 



Nematus mollis, (Klug) Hartig, Blattw., 201 ; Thomson, Hym. Scand., i. 98. — 

 Of this species I have seen a single specimen, which vi^as taken by Dr. White at 

 Braemar. — Id. 



Notodonta bicolora in Ireland. — As Mr. Birchall expresses a doubt as to N. 

 hicolora being an Irish insect, I can abundantly satisfy him respecting it. First of 

 all, Bouchard's captures were no doubt genuine, as a lady asked my opinion about it 

 at the time, saying he wanted £4 for a specimen.* Then Tixrner found wings in a 

 spider's web ; and after that, John Hardy, Jun., of Manchester, took a specimen 

 which I saw on his return from Killarney. The year following he beat a larva into 

 his net off birch, whilst looking for beetles : he told me that he expected he had got 

 a larva of bicolora, and this proved correct, and he brought me the specimen to 

 look at alive ; he found another larva crawling across the roads on Denis Island; 

 Eillarney, which he did not rear. Mr. Hardy also beat the larvae of Thecla ruhi 

 off birch at the same time ; this Mr. Stainton seems to question, but I am quite 

 right in this respect, as I have Hardy's letter on the subject. Hardy writes me 

 that he has bred Thecla ruli from Salix fiisca, bilberry and birch, several times, 

 and that he has found the pupa on holly ; but as he never found the larva on the 

 last named plant, he thinks it may have crawled thither to change. With one 

 exception, I have always found T. ruhi amongst birch. — J. B. Hodgkinson, 15, 

 Spring Bank, Preston : December 12th, 1873. 



Notodonta bicolora in Ireland. — Mr. Birchall, when doubting the authenticity 

 of this species as Irish, was probably not aware of my having both captured and 

 bred it, under the following circumstances. In the year 1867, 1 captured a <J perfect 

 hisect, and the next season took a larva, from which, in 1869, I reared a ? (which I 

 remember showing alive to Mr. Hodgkinson, of Preston) : both the ^ and the larva 

 were taken not more than one mile from the Muckross Hotel ; and I have also found 

 wijigs of old specimens in spider's web there. These two specimens are now in the 

 collection of Mr. Alfred Beaumont, of New House, Huddersfield, who I am quite 

 sure will give any information about them, and show them to any one. He became 

 possessed of them curiously enough, by drawing the number representing tliis insect 

 in two consecutive years, on each occasion of my so distributing my captures among 

 my subscribers. I was at Killarney for two years, and worked hard during each 

 season, but never got more than these two moths. I know, also, that the late Mr. C 

 Turner worked hard day and night for this insect at Killarney, though he never got 

 it ; and any one who remembers his shrewdness, will feel sure he would not have 

 exerted himself to such an extent unless convinced the species really occurred there. 

 I firmly believe that the late Mr. Bouchard also took the insect there, as I stayed at 

 the house where he stopped, and the master of it told me that Bouchard came in 

 one day much excited, saying he had taken bicolora. The master ujf the house and 

 others called the insect " Mychel Lorum," and used to ask me in joke if I had taken 

 it ; when I took the 3 , I showed it to him, and he recognized it instantly. — J. Ray 

 Hardy, 118, Embden Street, Hulmo, Manchester : January, 1874. 



* The price of Nolodoata bicolora, according to continental catalogues, varies from about aix- 

 pence to one shilling. Without expressing any opinion on the point in question, wo roust admit 

 our utter luiability to comprehend our corre.spouclenf s argument. — Eds. 



