!885.] 



137 



Wocke, in big continuation of ITeinemann's " Schmetterlinge Deutschlands und 

 der Schweiz," II, 2, ii, 611, adopts the above differentiation of the two larvse given 

 by Herr G-. G. Muhlig. 



I should here remark that I liave received specimens as flavaginella from 

 Muhlig and Hartmann ; these are a narrovp-winged, dark brown species xoith no jjale 

 costa, only with a few obscure darker streaks on the anterior wings ; large specimens 

 resemble annulatella in size, but ordinarily the insect is smaller. These specimens, 

 received as flavaginella, do not resemble the two Lienigian types received through 

 the kindness of Dr. af Tengstrom. Madam Lienig's specimens are ochreous (not 

 dark brown), and show hardly any symptoms of darker streaks ; in fact, they closely 

 resemble specimens bred by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher (which I have now before me) 

 from SiKEdafruticosa. This, however, is a plant scarcely likely, from all I can 

 make out, to have occurred in Madam Lienig's locality. 



How many species of this group of the genus occur on the plants of the Order 

 ChenopodiacecB is a puzzling question ; but I think the proper way will be, first to 

 learn to differentiate all the species, and then we shall be better able to answer the 

 question, "Which is the true C. flavaginella T' — H. T. Staixton, Mountsfield, 

 Lewisham, S.E. : September \^th, 1885. 



Local Lepidoptera in Camherioell. — In spite of the rapid growth of the metropolis, 

 land the consequent tendency to the destrrction of localities for insects, the general 

 'cultivation and preservation of trees and shrubs in the roads, gardens and shrub- 

 beries, to some extent counteracts this tendency, and many moths, of species not 

 \asually considered abundant, seem to hold their own in this neighbourhood. Sme- 

 rinthus tilice has twice this summer been found here in public thoroughfares, and 

 Cerura vinula once, and one night I was much astonished at catching a male 

 Phorodesma hajularia flying about a lamp in the street ; I suppose it must have 

 come over the hill from Dulwich Wood. Cidaria dotata and Eupithecia fraxinata 

 have several times been met with close by, and twice Sericoris lifasciana. I confess 

 that I cannot understand the occurrence of this last species, there being apparently 

 no fir trees at hand. An old favourite with which I am much pleased to renew my 

 acquaintance is that lovely creature, Pyra/i* costalis,QXio\.'hev is Chrysoclista linneella, 

 which has become astonishingy plentiful. It was very curious to see them at 9 o'clock 

 on a sunny morning dancing round the trunks of the limes like swarms of black 

 flies. Within the last few days Ennomos angularia and the larvae of Acronycta 

 aceris have been found upon the same trees.— Chas. G. Bakeett, 68, Camberwell 

 arove, S.E. : September 11th, 1885! 



Melanism in metropolitan Lepidoptera.—l have been a good deal interested this 

 season in the apparently great proportionate increase in numbers of the black forms 

 of Eupithecia rectangulata and Tortrix Podana here in Camberwell. I collected a 

 good deal here twenty-five years ago, and remember that among the ordinary green 

 specimens of E. rectangulata a black specimen would not unfrequently occur ; but 

 this summer nearly every specimen found in the neighbourhood has been more or 

 less black— certainly the green form has been comparatively rare. Unfortunately 

 the black specimens become worn almost immediately, so that very few are worth 

 keeping. ^ 



