NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 19 



larva of this species, is armed with fine and exceedingly sharp 

 bristles, which, if carelessly handled, readily penetrate the skin, 

 causing considerable irritation. The larva of the beautiful swift 

 (Zelotypia stacyi) measures eight inches when full grown, and I 

 have seen several Cossus larvae of similar dimensions. As Mr. 

 Vincent Holt has asked and endeavoured to answer the question, 

 Why not eat insects ? it may not be out of place to add that in 

 Australia the hairless larvae of such insects as Zelotypia, 

 Hepiahis, Charagia, Pielus, and many wood-boring Coleoptera — 

 particularly Longicorns and Rhynchophora — are eaten, either 

 raw or cooked, by the aborigines and by not a few depraved 

 members of the white community. — A. Sidney Olllff ; Aus- 

 tralian Museum, Sydney, N. S. Wales. 



Scarcity of Insects in 1887. — I am curious to learn 

 whether the experience of other collectors of Lepidoptera 

 coincides with my own concerning the dearth of insects, owing 

 to the long drought from which we suffered during the summer 

 of 1887. The want of moisture seems, however, to have had an 

 effect of disturbing the normal dates of emergence. As an 

 instance of this I quote the following facts : — Triphcena ianthina, 

 usually so abundant at sugar, has been only represented by 

 a single specimen. Rumia luteolata, Metrocampa margaritaria, 

 Pericallia syringaria, Phorodesma pustulata, Hemithea strigata, 

 which I have taken regularly for some years, have been notably 

 absentees. Eugonia alniaria surprised me by coming to light, 

 quite fresh, on October 7th, more than a month later than usual. 

 Dipteryg'ia scahriuscula, one of the few moths taken plentifully in 

 June, appeared again in September ; I have never heard of this 

 insect being double-brooded. The only noteworthy insects that 

 I found here for the first time, in 1887, are Sesia tipuUforims 

 and S. myopcBformis, the sun having been apparently favourable 

 to their metamorphoses ; I had searched for them in vain before, 

 but this year they were found abundantly in mj' own garden, and 

 proved to be most partial to privet-bloom. Pterostoma palpina 

 was taken in June, and again in August. Chcerocampa porcellus 

 came to light in August. — William Powley ; Hounslow. 



William Farren. — We regret to hear of the death of Mr. 

 William Farren, of Cambridge, which occurred on 21st November 

 last, his age being fifty-one. A notice of his entomological work 

 will appear in our next issue. — J. T. C. 



