1867. J 105 



1865. This species is introduced by Stephens (lUust. p. 41), but the 

 single exponent in his collection is only Fenusa pumila. 



I remark en passant that Monophadnus nigerrimus, Klug, a widely 

 diffused species, is the same as Selandria hrevicornis of Stephens (lUust. 

 p. 49) . What the true hrevicornis may be, I know not. 



That my own small collection should contain so many novelties in 

 this family (and I believe those here numerated are probably only one- 

 half of what I really possess) is a convincing proof, if any were re- 

 quired, of the little that is yet known, in this country, concerning these 

 interesting insects. 



Forest HiU, London : lOift Sepi., 1867. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE CECONOMY OF THE SAW-PLY (PHYLLOTOMA 

 ACERIS, McLACH.) THAT MINES THE LEAVES OF MAPLE. 



BY CHARLES HEALT. 



It is now upwards of eleven years (June, 1856) since my friend, 

 Mr. Charles Miller, first drew the attention of the Entomological 

 world to this peculiar mining larva, at p. 110, vol. i., of the " Entomo- 

 logist's Weekly Intelligencer." Speaking of the full-fed larva, he 

 observes, " It constructs a circular case out of the upper cuticle and a 

 layer of the lower cuticle of the leaf, not forming a hole through the 

 leaf, as a piece of the lower epidermis is still left untouched." Erom 

 the fact of the larva cutting out a case he was doubtless led to throw 

 out the suggestion as to the possibility of its being something allied to 

 the micro-lepidopterous Elachista (Antispila) Treitschhiella. The mines 

 made by these larvae are very conspicuous on the leaves of Acer cam- 

 pestre during the months of June and July; occasionally I have met 

 with them on Acer pseudo-platanus. At about the end of the first week, 

 or the middle, of the month of June, the larva commences its mine, and 

 if we then inspect the leaves of the Maple growing in a locality fre- 

 quented by this species, some of them will be found to contain a minute 

 blotch situate near the edge of the leaf; at times, nay, frequently, a 

 leaf may be found containing three or four similar little blotches, and 

 in some few instances, I have noticed each of the five lobes of a leaf to 

 be similarly disfigured by a mining larva ; it always feeds solitarily, 

 there never being more than one in a mine : it feeds with the under- 

 side of its body facing the upper surface of its food. The young larva's 

 body is white, dorsal vessel greenish, head brown, darker at the sides, 

 and with brownish markings ; the back of the second segment is deco- 



