1867.] 135 



Now if moths captured in September and October lay eggs immediately, and 

 the larvae are hatched within a week, I cannot think the species is likely to hyber- 

 nate in the perfect state ; and if these September larvae feed away so rapidly, we 

 cannot suppose that those captured in the following July can have remained ten 

 months in that state. 



I think we must conclude that there are two broods, one on the wing in May 

 and June, the other in August, September, and October. 



Suff'Usa, I know, hybernates in the perfect state, but then it does not pair till 

 the Spring. 



I shall be glad if others will publish any facts they may know bearing on this 

 subject. — J. Hellins, 12th October, 1867. 



Notes on Oirrosdia xerampelina. — I have to thank Dr. Heardcr and Mr. A. 

 Edmunds for their kindness in sending me eggs of this species, and my own 

 awkwardness in somehow faiHng to rear the caterpillars. However, the larva has 

 been safely figured, and the account of my failure with it in an early stage will be 

 followed by that of Mr, Buckler's success at a later date. 



Dr. Hearder sent me eggs in the autumn of last year, which I suppose were 

 not kept cold enough, for the larvae came forth about December 10th ; of course 

 the ash {Fraximis excelsior) had neither flower nor leaf then, so I cut some twigs, 

 and picked open some buds for them, and for a time hoped they would feed con- 

 tentedly, but they soon died off, one or two surviving the others for a short time, 

 and sustaining themselves by eating the inner bark of the twigs. 



Mr. Edmunds sent me eggs on 21st last February, having prevented the 

 unnaturally early exclusion of the larvae by keeping them in a room with a cold 

 aspect. I continued to treat them in the same way, and the larvae did not appear 

 till the second and third week in April, when they came out at intervals of a day 

 or two. 



Now, of course, I thought I was all right, and having procured some bunches 

 of the budding ash-blossoms, expected to have no further trouble. But, whatever 

 was the cause (perhaps it might have been the juicy dampness of the buds shut up 

 in the bottle), xerampelina would not thrive, and again I lost all the brood. 

 Meanwhile other larvae throve on the same buds, and the sight of their frass 

 appearing, whilst they themselves were hidden in their food, kept me some time in 

 ignorance of the full extent of my loss. At last the deceivers appeared — three or 

 four Cheimatohia hrumata, two Cosmia trapezina, and one Xylina petrificata. 

 Brumata, probably, had been hatched some little time, but the others must have 

 been introduced in the egg state, and I scarcely think that they destroyed the 

 xerampelina, because the latter must have been all dead before the former had 

 grown big enough to be cannibals, for I fancy they are contented with vegetable 

 diet until nearly half-grown. 



The egg of xerampelina is of the usual round convex-topped button shape, 

 ribbed with sixteen ribs, long and short alternately; eight of them meeting 

 together at the top, whilst the other eight stop short, and do not touch the angles 

 formed by the meeting of the longer ribs on either side of them ; the surface 

 between the ribs is reticulated transversely. 



