204 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



On the 7th I added three pupae of Smerinthus tilice to the seven 

 Deilej^hila gal'ii, placing the apparatus on a kitchen shelf, where 

 the maximum temperature was 70°. The first galii appeared on 

 February loth. On and about the 17th the weather was very- 

 warm for the season, and two more fine galii emerged at mid-day 

 on that date. In spite of the succeeding cold, the first S. tilice 

 appeared on the 24th. Although the cold weather continued, I 

 began to be surprised at the non-appearance of moths between 

 the last-mentioned date and March 7th, and upon again examining 

 the pupae I found two more galii, dead and covered with mould 

 or white fungus. I then commenced to carry out fully Mr. 

 McRae's instructions, taking care to keep the saucer on a level 

 with the lower part of the fire-grate. The fourth galii developed 

 on the 8th, and the fifth and last on the 2Gth of the month. In 

 the meantime the second S. tilice emerged on the 8th, and the 

 third on the 2ist March.* 



These remarks would possess, perhaps, greater completeness 

 were evidence added from collectors who decided to keep their 

 pupae till July or August, waiting for possible emergence through 

 natural influences. Had my stock of pupae suffered less, I 

 intended reserving a few for this experiment. I must therefore 

 rest in the hojDe that the experience of others may, in time, be 

 forthcoming. I need hardly add that a thorough knowledge of 

 the habits of this insect, and its conduct when exposed to a 

 climate very different to that of the Continent, must go far 

 towards the settlement of what has been, perhaps, too long sur- 

 rounded by doubt and controversy. 

 2, George Street, Chester, June 10, 1889. 



CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS A LIST OP THE VARIETIES 



.OF NOCTURE OCCURRING IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



By J. W. TuTT, F.E.S. 



(Continued from p. 182.) 



Luperina, Bdv., cespitis, Fab. 



The type of this species is described by Fabricius in his 



' Mantissa,' p. J 56, No. 148, as: — " Noctua cristata, alis incum- 



bentibus fuscis : strigis tribus undatis albidis nigra? innatis, 



posticis albis." " Media. Caput et thorax fusca, immaculata. 



Alae anticae fuscae nitidulae strigis tribus undatis pallidis, unica 



ante medium, duabus pone medium, quae interne terminantur 



striga atra. In medio maculae ordinariae annulo albo. Postjcae 



* Of five larvse, of D. fjalii sent me last autumn by a correspondent at Liverpool, 

 only three attained the i^ropcr stage. These three pupaj were kei^t indoors, but no 

 attempt was made to force the imagines. On the 2Gth of July a male specimen 

 emerued, and a female on the 28th. — K. fcj. 



