THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 21 



sisters and I have, at different times, found Xanthia gilvago 

 and Cirrhoedia xerampelina within the limits of our own 

 garden. — [Miss] Anne Steele Perkins; Ashgrove, Overton, 

 Flintshire, December 2, 1873. 



Xanthia Aurago (Enlom. vi. 564). — Permit me to say that 

 T think Mr. Gregsou's note scarcely adds to our knowledge of 

 the westerly range of Xanthia Aurago. The insect having 

 long ago been recorded to occur in Ireland, its capture at 

 Llangollen is not remarkable, so far as westerly longitude is 

 concerned. — Echcin Bircliall. 



Hybridizing Smerinthi. — This year I bred out specimens 

 of Smeiinlhus ocellalus and S. Populi, which I was lucky 

 enough to have crossed, male Populi with female Ocellatus ; in 

 about twenty-four hours after she began to deposit her batch 

 of eggs: they were deposited in batches differing in 

 number; they were all unattached; the number deposited 

 was a hundred and seventy, deposited at intervals, and 

 more so after being disturbed. The duration in the egg 

 state was fifteen days; colour at first was bluish, then 

 changed in a few days to a light flesh-colour; the caterpillar 

 fed on apple-leaves. After feeding for three weeks began to 

 wander from their food, and died with the diarrhoea. If you 

 can throw out a few hints it may be a guide for the future, to 

 myself as well as others, how to treat them if lucky enough 

 to cross. Is this a common occurrence? — John Williams; 

 100, Well Street, Hanleij, Staffordshire, November 12, 1873. 



Description of the Larva of Macrogaster Arundinis. — The 

 following notes on this larva may be useful, as being fuller 

 than those given in your work on 'British Moths.' On May 

 9th, 1873, 1 found a single larva of this species inside the 

 stem of a reed, at Wicken Fen. The following description 

 was taken on May 1 0th: — Bulk slender in proportion to 

 length ; head flattened, about half the size of the 2nd seg- 

 ment, and retractile within it; form cylindrical, but tapering 

 towards the extremity ; a corneous plate, with ten black 

 spots on the 2nd segment. The larva is covered with a 

 number of warts, emitting some six short hairs on each 

 segment, but more numerous on the last. Spiracles pink, and 

 not easily perceptible. General colour a pale rose. Head 

 dull ochreous; mouth black, with two black spots on each 

 side. Medio-dorsal line conspicuous, being of a darker tint 



