i88i.] 237 



Vespa norvegica in Yorkshire. — On August 11th last, -while collecting Cole- 

 optera on umbelliferous plants at Stamford Bridge near York, I captured a specimen 

 of Vespa norvegica. — W. W. Fowler, Lincoln : February 8th, 1881. 



Ornithoptera BrooJceana, Wall. — This handsome butterfly, -which was first 

 described by Mr. Wallace in 1855, and discovered by him in the neighbourhood of 

 Sarawak, is still, especially the female, not a common insect in collections, but, from 

 recent information, it appears to have a much wider habitat than is usually understood, 

 and, therefore, also likely before long to be estimated as a much less rare insect by 

 Lepidopterists. Of its having but a limited range in Borneo it would be somewhat 

 rash to predicate. From Sarawak, where originally found, it extends northwards 

 to Sandakan where it has been captured by Mr. W. B. Pryer, and was seen in N.W. 

 Borneo, near Mt. Kina Balu, by Mr. Burbidge, " Gardens of the Sun," p. 260. This 

 author records it as being seen in considerable numbers : " These delicate insects are 

 generally most numerous by rivers, or in sunny places by the dry beds of streams, 

 and, singularly enough, are most abundant during the cool wet monsoon." It is also 

 found in Sumatra, Vollenhoven having described and figured it from that Island under 

 the name of P. Trogon. In the Proc. Boy. G-eog. Soc, vol. ii, p. 634, it is recorded 

 that Mr. Leech found this butterfly " plentifully in several places " in Eastern Perak. 

 It is thus found in Malacca, Sumatra, and Borneo, but we may almost absolutely 

 say not in Java, and thus agrees with the many other zoological coincidences which 

 prompted Mr. Wallace some years since to propound the theory "that subsequent 

 to the separation of Java, Borneo became almost entirely submerged, and on its 

 re-elevation was for a time connected with the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, but 

 not with Java or Siam." Most of the described Omithopterce are now in collections ; 

 0. Urvilliana has recently been received from Duke of York's Island, and the 

 greatest rarity and desideratum that remains is 0. Tithonus, De Haan, which was 

 described and figured in 1840. — W. L. Distant, East Dulwich : January 22nd, 1881. 



Occurrence of Harp ell a bracteella near Hartlepool. — Mr. J. E. Kobson, of 

 Hartlepool, took a specimen of this rare Micro., in his garden, last summer. The 

 insect flew to light, which was put in his summer-house for the purpose of attracting 

 moths. It is in rather poor condition, but a most interesting capture, as giving a 

 fresh locality for the species. The only other recorded captures are those near 

 Gateshead, and the one at Cruralyn by Mr. Scott. Mr. Robson most kindly pre- 

 sented me with the specimen. — J. Sang, 6, Chestnut Street, Darlington : January 

 2oth, 1881. 



On the semi-looping habit of young larvce of Noctuce. — In reference to Mr. 

 Stainton's remarks {ante p. 135) on the half-looping young larvae of Triphcena pronuba, 

 I have to state that, according to my experience, which has been pretty extensive in 

 rearing from the egg, nearly all the larvae of the Trifidce are semi-loopers when first 

 hatched. The Cymatophoridce are an exception, but they are altogether abnormal, 

 and somewhat allied to the Tortricina, the eggs being pear-shaped, and the larvae 

 living between united leaves and moulting only four times, while the normal number 

 of moults in the Trifidce is five. — B. F. Logan, Colinton, KB. : February 11th, 1881. 



Fempelia hostilis, fyc, near Colchester. — I captured a worn specimen of 

 Fempelia hostilis in 1879, and in the autumn of that year took several larvae, but 



