2<^0 [Decemlier, 



Dichrorampha alpestrana, H.-S. — I have taken a few specimens of this (appa- 

 rently) very local species in its old locality .-Epping Forest, principally at rest on or in 

 the immediiite neighbourhood of its food-plant, Achillea ptarmica. — A. Thurnall, 

 Stratford, E. : November 4fh, 1895. 



Hybrids between <J Etinomos alniaria and $ E. angularia. — These hybrids 

 have been recently bred by Messrs. J. and W. Davis, of Dartford. No premeditated 

 attempt to pair the parents was made. A ? angularia, which emerged from pupa 

 unusually late in the season, paired with a <J alniaria, which happened to be in the 

 same breeding cage ; and the progeny partake of the characters of both parents 

 (which unfortunately have not been preserved). They are intermediate in size. The 

 more pointed fore-wings and the mottled appearance of them (especially in the ? s), 

 show the admixture of alniaria, whilst the distinct lines on the fore-wings, the inner 

 one angulated, and the pronounced tooth-like projection midway in the outline of 

 the hind-wings, show their affinity to angularia. Some of the males are of a rich 

 orange hue. The hybrids have been paired, but, as might have been anticipated, the 

 ova have proved infertile. — A. B. Earn, Mount Nod, Greenhithe : Nov. \Uh, 1895. 



Sphinx convolvuli in the larva state in Dorset. — S. convolvuH seems to 

 have been rather common in this neighbourhood lately, as three specimens of 

 the moth have been bi-ought to me in a more or less damaged state by children, 

 and also two larvae, one of which reached me on October 5th, and is still above 

 ground, though apparently full-fed, or very nearly so; the other a few days more 

 advanced, went down about October 3rd. Both were found by people digging 

 potatoes in the allotment gardens, where Convolvulus arvensis is a common weed, 

 and this plant continues to furnish the food of the second larva. The extreme rarity 

 of the occurrence of the larva in this country makes the captures interesting, and it 

 is also curious to note that the locality suggested in Buckler's Larvre, vol. ii, p. 24 

 viz., " Potato fields in soils which Convolvulus arvensis affects," exactly coincides 

 with the present one, though the connection of the potatoes is not necessary, as the 

 weed is by no means limited to potato ground. The first larvn was very like fig. 2b 

 of the plate in Buckler's Larvae, the second a little lighter in colour; the latter went 

 down yesterday, October loth. It is perhaps worth recording that I have not seen 

 or had brought to me as usual any larvae of "S. ligustri this year. — N. M. Richard- 

 son, Weymouth: October \Cth, 1895. 



Didea fasciaia, Mcq. — I am glad to be able to record the capture of this 

 rarity last season. I boxed a ? from an Umbellifer at Holmwood, Surrey, on June 

 5th, which was kindly identified for me by Mr. Austen. This is apparently the 

 fourth British specimen. I may also record Syrphus tricinctus, a $ of which was 

 taken at the same time and place at flowers of Veronica chammdrys. 



I met with a single (J of Merodon equestris on the Lea Marshes near here in 

 August, and there is another in the new British Collection of Diptera at the Natural 

 History Museum from Hampstead Heath, so this pretty Syrphid may now be con- 

 sidered a Metropolitan insect. In this connection also the capture of Chilosia 



