208 [February, 
In the same district, I have this year met with P. hajularia, E. coronata, P. 
syringaria, in lanes ; Thera jwniperata, and C. Jluviata, on the ivy. At sugar, 
Xanthia aurago, cerago, and silago, Hoporina croceago, Enrwinos fuscantaria ; and a 
singular Noctna, of vs^hich I have not yet found out the name, and I noticed, on 
one particular lime tree, abundance of the larvae of X. citrago, each larva having a 
rolled-up leaf as its habitat ; I also noticed that the period for these larvae to be 
in their cocoons was of somewhat longer duration than for most other Noehice, — five 
weeks being the chosen time to rest their wearied limbs and jaws before undergoing 
the change. After all, the specimens bred were not so fine, in any respect, as 
those found in a natural state, i. e., sitting idly (by night) on the leaves and twigs 
of the lime tree. — S. Canning, 51, St. George's Square, Belgravia. 
Description of the larva of CuculUa umbratica. — To the kindness of the 
Eev. Hugh A. Stowell and Mr. Greening, I am greatly obKged for examples of 
the larvso of this species, and interesting details of their early history. The first 
named gentleman captured a ? at honeysuckle, that laid a large number of eggs 
on the 11th of last July, and in five days they were hatched, and fed well on sow- 
thistles (Sonchus). 
Unlike the sun-loving habits of others of the genus, these larvae evinced a 
great aversion to light, and always hid themselves by day, reposing under the lower 
leaves of the sow-thistles, and at night ascending and feasting on the upper leaves 
and flowers. 
Those reared from eggs were full fed by the 25th of August, and the others by 
the 3rd of September, and were kept separately and well supplied with earth ; but 
instead of making subterranean cocoons, they spun silken threads amongst the 
flower buds of the sow-thistles, attaching them to the tops of their cages, and 
spinning under the buds a few threads, forming a loose and open kind of hammock, 
in which they changed to pupae. 
One individual chose a leaf, curved do-niiwards and secured to the stem beneath 
by a few threads, amongst which it underwent its transformation. 
The pupae were smooth and reddish-brown, with the tips of the wing-cases 
projecting a little, and the anal point considerably. 
The larvaj, when viewed from above, tapered but very little anteriorly or 
posteriorly, excepting the last segment only, which was rather elongated, and 
depressed at an obtuse angle with the other segments. The chief variation, indi- 
vidually, consisting of the more or less sufi'usion of black, and of the degree of 
dullness or brilliancy of the ground colour. Amongst them three examples will 
amply suffice for description, the others being intermediate and connecting. 
Var. 1. Ground colour bright ochreous-yellow, with an elaborate blackish- 
brown raised and granulated arabesque pattern of curves and angles on the back ; 
the sides equally intricate, but linear and wavy in character. The dorsal stripe is 
represented by bare double triangular spaces of the ground colour at the segmental 
divisions, and on the last segment as a central stripe. The sub-dorsal is indicated 
by a very thin undulating line of the ground colour, and on the anal segment 
abruptly widening into a very broad stripe, tapering to a point at the extremity. 
The head dull black ; a (iull blackish-brown plate on the second segment, with 
