I8(!7.J 15 
tcrior pair of dorsal dots. Tlic Bides arc mottled with dark grey and olive, having 
oblique streaks and a pale lino of ochreous above the legs. Spiracles brownish- 
orange, edged with dark grey ; belly and legs pale greenish-brown. 
Some of the moths appeared late in autumn, and others in the following 
June. — Id. 
Note on Bomhijx quercAs and B. callunce. — Having lately been in communication 
with Mr. H. Doubleday about the question of the distinctness or identity of these 
two forms of the Oak Eggar, I have become desirous to procure some information 
as to the range of each in England and Wales. 
Mr. Birchall tells us that only callimcB is found in Ireland ; and I suppose this 
form prevails universally north of Manchester, also westwards from Hampshire to 
Cornwall ; but we have no certain information yet about Wales. 
QuercHs, of course, occurs at Epping, and in the London district, and is the 
form taken at Cambridge ; but as yet we cannot say whether it prevails throughout 
the counties eastwards of this line. 
My object, then, in publishing this note, is to ask collectors generally, and 
especially those who live at about 40 or 50 miles in any direction from Epping, to 
be so good as to send, during the coming summer, to Mr. H. Doubleday (who has 
kindly promised to devote himself to the qiiestion) a pair, male and female, of the 
Oak Eggar moth, which they breed or take in their several localities ; and, if they 
find varieties, to send a specimen of them. 
If a sufficient number would kindly respond to this appeal, they would greatly 
facilitate the settlement of an interesting question. 
I suppose it is generally known that the distinction between qucrc4s and 
callunce really lies in the different curves of the pale fascia on the wings of the 
moths, and not so much in the greater or less depth of colour generally, nor in the 
length of time passed in the pupa state. — J. Hellins, April 13th. 
Occurrence of Selenia illustraria at Edmonton. — About a week ago I captured 
an example of this species at Lower Edmonton, and as I believe it has not been 
recorded as occui-ring in Middlesex, send you a note of it. In the same locality I 
once before took a larva, from which I bred a crippled specimen. My friend Dr. 
Knaggs tells me that many years ago he secured an examjjle on a fence in Chui-ch 
Lane, Lower Edmonton, but that he has never recorded the fact. — J. W. Downing, 
Vauxhall Road, May llth, 1867. 
Note on hybernation of the larva of Boarmia rhomhoidaria. — In the beginning 
of last month, I obsei'ved on a lilac bush in my garden some nearly full-groivn 
larvce of B. rhomhoidaria, which had evidently passed the winter in the position I 
then saw them, as they were covered with dirt, and seemed to have suffered much 
from the weather. I have for the last three years noticed the larvae of this species 
hybernating, and have found them of all sizes, from 2"' to fall-growu, the small 
ones having usually made themselves comfortable quarters in the loops of list with 
which I have nailed a Virginian creeper to the wall. From one of these lai-vse 
which I found in March, 1865, I bred a large and very strongly marked specimen. 
The larva fed for about ten days on buds of elder, and changed to pupa at the end 
of April, the imago emerging early in June. — James A. Forsteu, 38, Skinner Street, 
Clerkenwell, E.C. 
