186(5.] 115 
the left hind-wing tovvai-ds the hind margin, so that the wing is divided into two 
brown patches (Felder), the lower of which has also the appearance of being pow- 
dered with some bluish scales near the inner margin of the wing (Ilinterleibs- 
klappe)." Op. cit., p. 19. — Albert Mullek, Penge, lltli September, 1806. 
How to find the larvcc of Gelechia costella. — In hedges where Solanum dulcamara 
(Bitter-sweet, or very frequently called simply Nightshade,) grows, the larva) of 
0. costella may readily be met with in the months of August, September, and 
October ; they are perhaps the most frequent in the first half of the latter month. 
The habit of the larva is varied ; in the first place we meet with them as 
leaf-miners. Now Acrolepia pygmceana is often abundant as a leaf-miner on the 
same plant. How, then, are we to distinguish the mines of the two species ? The 
mine of the Acrolepia remains flat, and is of an uniform pale green ; whereas the 
mine of Gelechia costella (which is almost invariably at the edge of the leaf,) is more 
or less puckered, and with a brownish tinge. Besides these differences in the mine, 
a glance at the larvae abundantly enables us to distinguish them, as the Acrolepia 
larva is of an unicolorous pale green, and the costella larva has a very conspicuous 
black plate on the second segment, which can be readily seen whilst the larva is 
still within its mine. 
Secondly, we meet with the larva of costella feeding between united leaves, and 
forming yellowish-green blotches in the upper leaf. 
Thirdly, we find it boring in the stems of the Solanum ,- if we find the terminal 
leaves of a shoot of Solanum dulcamara are withered, and we split down the stem 
of the shoot, we shall find that it has been excavated, and we shall not need to split 
far before we discover, snugly ensconced in the stem, the larva we are seeking. 
At other times it betrays its presence in the stem by the little pellets of excrement 
which are ejected frequently at the base of a leaf stalk. 
In the month of October last year, having noticed that none of the collections 
of my German friends possessed this insect, I assiduously sought for the larvs, and 
distributed them to various parts of Germany, Switzerland, and Holland : whilst 
thus seeking, I noticed that many of these October larvse were quite small, and 
this suggested to me the idea they would perhaps hybernate in the larva state. 
I have always looked upon Gelechia costella as a most exceptional species in 
the genus from its late appearance in the perfect state, having frequently bred it iu 
November ; but larvae which were quite small as late as the 9th of October, could 
scarcely attain the perfect state before December. 
England and Holland (whence I have seen one specimen) are the only two 
countries known to produce this species ; but in a box of insects which Monsieur 
Milliere, of Lyons, was lately so kind as to send me, I found specimens of a closely 
allied species, which he had bred fi-om larvas feeding on Hyoscya.mvs albus at Cannes. 
Those who have the opportunity of searching in this country amongst henbane 
{Hyoscyamus n iger) wou\d do well to turn their attention to that plant. — H. T. 
Stainton, Mountsfield, Lewisham, S.E., September lUh, 1866. 
Nepticula centifoliella ; a species netu to Britain. — In the month of April last 
I was asked to name some insects for Mr. W. C. Boyd, of Cheshunt, and was 
