168 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



successful — but often unsuccessful — plan of '* forcing," thus 

 causing a premature development, simply by a heightened 

 temperature, yet the principle of warmth, in some few isolated 

 cases, is open to argument. A short time since a correspondent 

 told me of his taking a specimen of Macaria Alternata in the 

 New Forest in May, together with several other species, which 

 in ordinary seasons seldom occur till June, and this notwith- 

 standing the winter-like weather we were experiencing at the 

 time. Doubtless, the heat and almost summer-like atmosphere 

 of a part of April would explain all this, and much more, if 

 we only knew how to read "Dame Nature's" volume more 

 correctly ; but it seemed to me a strange coincidence, to be 

 beating an Aureola from an oak whose shoots were crisp and 

 black from the effects of frost. It may be argued that the 

 early budding of the tree, as well as the development of the 

 insects, are to be traced to the same cause, namelj^, heat ; 

 and the argument is undoubtedly correct, but the theory of 

 heat is not so amply demonstrated in some cases : take, for 

 instance, the development of the early spring Lepidoptera, as 

 the Ta3niocampa, Hirtaria, &c. ; if the weather is cold and 

 unfavourable at the time they naturally " come out," some of 

 them are retarded in their developmentj and no heat of the 

 subsequent summer awakens them, but they lie over until 

 their "appointed time" the following spring, which seems an 

 extraordinary thing, if heat alone causes development. The 

 abundance of insects in summer, and their comparative rarity 

 in winter, is an ample proof of the great part which heat 

 plays in their developn)ent; but it is interesting in some 

 cases to see how Nature, in her wonderful order and design, 

 seems — to our finite understandings — to deviate from her 

 unalterable laws, all for the benefit and well-being of her 

 children. — G. B. Corhin. 



Lcirv(B Required for Figuring. — As I am anxious to obtain 

 correct drawings of the larvae of Lepidoptera, from Nature, 

 for publication, perhaps some of your readers possessing any 

 rare species might be inclined to send me one or two for this 

 purpose. If required, any larvae shall be returned. — Owen 

 Wilson ; Carmarllien. 



Change of Address. — T. N. Yi.oey,from 45, Athearn Road, 

 Peckham, to 1, Cload Road, Philips Road, Peckham 

 Rye, S.E. 



