1895] 119 



AsilidcB is derived from Asihis, without any particular entomological meaning being 

 connected with the Family name). As a staunch friend of continuity in the matter 

 of entomological nomenclature, I accept this solution as most welcome. 



For the present I confine myself to this short statement, but I hope to publish 

 soon a more elaboi-ate discussion of the facts of the case, as well as some details 

 about the structure of the two genera, communicated to me by Prof. Mik. In justice 

 to myself, I must remark that my article had no other purpose than a critical review 

 of the existing literature. With a stock-in-trade of two Liponeurce only (as I stated 

 on p. 150, line 11 from bottom),! could not attempt new discoveries. — C. K. Osten 

 Sacken, Heidelberg : April \st, 1895. 



A hunt for Phorodesma smaragdaria. — In my paper in the March number of 

 this Magazine (p. 57 ante) I had no idea of wounding the susceptibilities of any one, 

 and I have given credit to the discoverer of the larva of Ph. smaragdaria in this 

 country ; my intention was to give an account of an excursion in search of an insect 

 of whose locality the published indications were " imperfect," and to give some 

 further particulars of its natural history. In doing this I fail to see in what respect 

 I have transgressed or laid myself open to critical remarks (p. 94 ante), and I appeal 

 to the courtesy of the editors to allow the publication of this statement. The dis- 

 crepancy in the food-plant of the larva in Germany and England has yet to be 

 cleared up, and I hope some elucidation of it may be forthcoming from continental 

 entomologists. Fobbing Marsh, where our late respected fellow student Mr. Machin 

 found his Ph. smaragdaria, is a good collecting gi'ound, surpassing even the Hesperia 

 lineola district between Benfleet and Leigh. It would be pleasing to see the locality 

 well worked by the younger members of our craft ; Bomhyx castrensis occurs there, 

 and a look out should be kept for Epichnopteryx reticella and Coleophora vihici- 

 gerella. In the middle of September, 1893, I here collected 130 larvae of Ph. 

 smaragdaria in the space of two hours, when rain put an end to further search. 

 This collecting ground is reached by following the line from Pitsea Station towards 

 Gravesend for about one mile, when Vange Wharf Farm is reached ; a sharp turn 

 to the left leads across some marsh land past a black granary standing boldly out by 

 itself, and a little further on the insect hunter will find himself on one of the richest 

 collecting grounds to be found within so short a distance from London. — Henry A. 

 AULD, 31, Belmont Hill, Lee, S.E. : Aj^ril 8th, 1895. 



[We request that any further communications on this paper refer solely to 

 points connected with the life-history of the species. There cannot possibly bo any 

 objection to the publication of what appears to be a special locality, because Mr. Elisha 

 has already pointed out (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1886, p. 168) that he has observed 

 the larva; " over an extent of ground at least thirty miles in length." Two points 

 are especially suggestive for further investigation : firstly, the difference in the food- 

 plant here and on the continent ; secondly, the power of the larva to resist the 

 effects of tidal submei'gence. — Eus.]. 



Black variety of the larva of Saiurnia pavonia near Du/ilin. — In August last 

 Dr. R. F. Scharff found on the Wickiow Mounluins, near Lough Bray, a remarkable 



