1881.] 87 



'Eupithecia jasioneata. — I had the pleasure of breeding a long series of this 

 species in June, 1878, from larvae collected in September, 1877, at Yalentia, South 

 West coast of Ireland, by my collectors who were staying there at that time. The 

 larvae were feeding on Jasione montana. I shall not be likely to send for it again, 

 being in such an out of the way place. I sent several specimens away as vars. ? of 

 castigata ; at the time I bred them I had not seen the larvae. — E. G. Meek, 56, 

 Brompton Road, S.W. : August 22nd, 1881. 



Drepanula sicula. — I have this year had the pleasure of renewing acquaintance 

 with this moth, and have been able to supply most of my friends with bred examples. 

 Although not so fortunate as I had hoped, still, another season, I trust to be enabled 

 to supply all correspondents. — William H. Grigg, 31, Cotham New Road, Bristol : 

 August 1st, 1881. 



Rare Lepidoptera at Deal. — During a month's stay at Deal this year, I have 

 had the good fortune to take 34 fine specimens of the rare Nola centonalis, and 

 during August I have bred 24 splendid JEnnomos alniaria (= autumnaria) from 

 eggs obtained by a friend from a female moth captured on a gas lamp at Deal, and 

 sent to me last autumn. Fortunately I have been able to secure fertilized eggs, so 

 that I may hope to be able to supply friends with a great prize, genuine British 

 alniaria. — W. H. Tugwell, 3, Lewisham Road, Greenwich : August, 1881. 



The influence of rain in the destruction of the larvce of Charceas graminis. — 

 In your Editorial review of my short note on the abundance of Charceas graminis 

 at Clitheroe, you question whether the rains helped to clear the land of them, and 

 suggest that the apparent diminution may have been caused by the retirement of 

 the full-fed larvae underground, in order to become pupae. That your explanation is 

 partially true is extremely probable. My informants, however, held that the rain 

 had considerable influence on the disappearance of the caterpillars, and the accuracy 

 of their belief is strengthened by the observation of Kollar, who says, " Continued 

 rains, particularly when they occur about the last time of the caterpillars changing 

 their skin, are sufficient to destroy them entirely, as was the case in the Harz 

 territory " (Kollar on Insects injurious to Gardeners, English translation. London, 

 1840, p. 138).— William E. A. Axon, Fern Bank, Higher Broughton, Manchester: 

 August, 1881. 



The genus Oporabia. — With the help of correspondents an attempt has been 

 commenced to arrive at some definite conclusion as to the number of species of the 

 genus Oporabia found in Britain, from an examination of the early stages : but 

 whilst giving a short account of the few results already obtained, much more 

 extended assistance is asked for, in order that the questions may have a chance of 

 being satisfactorily settled. 



From eggs of dilutata obtained last autumn at Pembroke, by Mr. C. G. Barrett, 

 a good many larvae were reared : Mr. Hellins took a large number of larvae at 

 Exeter during the spring : and Mr. Kay, of Bury, did his best, when applied to, 

 almost too late in the season, to obtain larvae in his neighbourhood, and succeeded 

 in providing a few. 



The larva of dilutata is well known to vary considerably in the amount of its 



