132 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



are yellowish white, and in some specimens the markings are 

 very indistinct, and only indicated by a series of cloudy spots. 

 It feeds on Silene nutans, on which plant I captured the larva 

 last summer in this district. It will eat S. inflata and 

 S. maritima, but does not appear to like either. When full- 

 fed it descends beneath the surface of the ground, and spins 

 a slight cocoon of silk mingled with grains of sand, &c., and 

 in this changes to a pale brown pupa. The imago emerges 

 in June; but a precocious individual has just put in an 

 appearance (April 28) in my breeding-cage, the first British 

 bred specimen of Dianthoecia albimacula. — H. Moncreaff ; 

 High Street, Portsmouth, May 6, 1874. 



Economy of Pltycis Davisellus. — A description of the full- 

 grown larva of Phycis Davisellus has been already published, 

 but as its earlier state has not been noticed the following 

 information may be acceptable. The eggs of P. Davisellus 

 are laid in July and August on young shoots of Ulex cam- 

 pestris, and as soon as the larvae emerge they spin a thick 

 net-work of silk round the branch, and under this feed until 

 the approach of winter, when each forms for itself a close 

 cocoon or tunnel of silk in which to hybernate. In early 

 spring the larvae lengthen these cases, and extend, as they 

 increase in size, the silken web, feeding on the young buds 

 and blossoms beneath it. On fine days they may be seen 

 sunning themselves on the outer part of the web, but they 

 retreat into their tunnels on the least alarm. The little com- 

 panies of larvae are very abundant in this district in winter 

 and spring, and as the summer advances form conspicuous 

 objects on the furze bushes. The larvae cannot be dislodged 

 by beating, and it is only by pulling their nests to pieces that 

 their presence can be detected. The imago is figured in 

 'Morris's British Moths' as P. Palumbella, and under that 

 name I have had it in my collection for several years. — 

 H. Moncreaff. 



The Dor-beetle at Work. — In the afternoon of Easter 

 Monday I was rambling over the extensive heaths in this 

 neighbourhood seeking specimens or information ; the cold 

 winds and frequent showers put the collecting of Lepidoptera 

 out of the question, and the numberless Ibotprints around the 

 bog were an intimation that a search for lapwing's eggs 

 would not be a very successful venture. As 1 stood upon a 



