252 t^P"^' 



On the generic name Barsine. — Mr. A. Gr. Butler has called attention (Ent. 

 Mo. Mag., xxi, 133) to the pre-occupation of the generic name Barsine by Walker, 

 and suggested a new name for the genus of Geometrina which I had characterized 

 under that name. However, I had already, in a paper read before the Philosophical 

 Institute of Canterbury (N. Z.) in August last, and published in abstract in the New 

 Zealand Journal of Science for September, pointed out that the genus named by me 

 Barsine was truly synonymous with Boarmia, Tr., as defined by Lederer (whose 

 work I had not previously been able to obtain, as explained in my original paper), 

 and the genus which I had called Boarmia was therefore left without a title ; the 

 latter genus I renamed Gelonia. Mr. Butler's new designation for Boa7'mia is 

 thus unnecessary. — E. Meteick, King's School, Parramatta, N. S. W. : January 

 Uth, 1885. 



Habits and description of the larva of Tortricodes hyemana. — Early in June 

 last, I was examining an oak-bush in a hedge near here for larvse, when, on opening 

 a rolled-up leaf, I found a very striking brownish Tortrix larva, with a pretty spotted 

 appearance. I did not find the species common, but collected a few from different 

 parts of the bush, took them home, and placed them on a spray of oak in a small 

 bottle of water, covering the whole with a bell-glass. 



This is a very convenient method for observing the habits of small larvse, as the 

 food keeps fresh for a long time, and the larvse live and make their habitations with- 

 out being inconvenienced by the contact of the sides of the vessel which contains 

 them. Their habits can also in this way be watched at any time without disturbing 

 them. It is necessary, however, for this purpose to have good sized bell-glasses. 



The larva is not of a very lively disposition, though when disturbed it makes 

 some show of retreating, after the usual manner of Tortrices, but does not easily 

 leave its house when touched. It is rather short and stumpy, and tapers somewhat 

 towards each end : its length, when full-fed, is about 6 lines. 



The upper portion of the larva is of a rather dull brick-dust colour, inclining 

 to brown, with a dirty greenish tinge between the segments. This tinge, being 

 apparently chiefly due to the presence of food in the intestinal canal, is not constant 

 in its position or intensity, but is seen on different parts of the body at different 

 times. It is more decided, as a rule, towards the head, and on the anal flap is present 

 almost to the exclusion of the brick-dust colour. 



The head is of a dull yellowish-brown, with the mandibles and palpi darker. 

 The top of the second segment is of the same colour as the head, edged with whitish 

 in front, and with a blackish margin at the sides. There is a distinct whitish dorsal 

 line, and a less distinct line on each side below the first row of spots. The spots 

 themselves are conspicuous from their prominence and size : they are whitish in 

 colour, and have a small black dot in the middle, from which proceed inconspicuous 

 hairs. 



The under-side of the body is of a yellowish-white colour, on which a very 

 slight tinge of brick-dust can be perceived in patches on the first few and last seg- 

 ments, the division between it and the upper surface being sharply defined. 



The legs are blackish, as are also the hooks at the base of the claspers. The 

 colour of the head is rather brighter at the sides of the under-part than above. 



