THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 257 



Knautiata larva distinctly, whilst we fail to find it in its 

 allies. 



Some of our " quid nuncs," without seeing its larva, set it 

 down as E. absynthiata, whilst others go in for its being 

 Minutala; but, with considerable experience of this genus, 

 both in the larval and imago slate, I am quite sure it is not 

 the former; and from its larval differentiation and larger size, 

 distinctly different, and darker colour and habit in the perfect 

 insect, we can hardly construe it into the latter well-known 

 heath-feeder. I therefore propose the specific name of 

 Knautiata for it. 



The insect was first bred from the flower and seed of 

 Knautia arvensis by Mr. Porter, of Bolton, who discovered 

 it feeding in October, a i'evf years ago, and who not only 

 supplied me copiously with it in its early state, but directed 

 me to his localities, where I took its larva freely on the 19th 

 of September, and again on the 27th, full fed. It feeds on 

 the flowers and seeds of the Knautia arvensis, which grows 

 in profusion on the banks of Ball Hill Lodges, near Bolton, 

 burrowing down into the flower and seed, until only one-half 

 of the larva is visible : it turns to a large, light, rich, 

 golden brown pupa. I may say, en passant, that I have fed 

 a few of these larvae from the young state on heath-flowers, 

 to see if 1 could make them assume the beautiful pink colours 

 of E. rainutata; but my experiment has failed, 



C. S. Gregson. 



September 30, 1874. 



Entomological Notes, Captures, 8;c. 



" Do Hornets ever Build in the Ground?^'' — This question 

 is asked by Mr. Henry Reeks in the last number of the ' Ento- 

 mologist' (Entom. vii. 232), I can, from personal observation, 

 assure him that they do so. In the month of August, 1871, 1 

 found a hornet's-nest in a bank at a wood side, near Sid- 

 mouth : it was at the latter part of the month, when the 

 colony was numerous, I stood within two yards of the 

 entrance to the nest for some time, the hornets passing in and 

 out, but exhibiting no dislike to my close observation : I was 

 anxious to ascertain whether hornets posted a sentinel within 

 tiie mouth of the burrow ; I failed, however, to detect one. 

 In the fifth volume of the 'Entomological Magazine' (p. 479) 



2l 



