258 THE ENtOMOLOGIST. 



and in August ; whereas its allied species, Cidaria russata, 



is out in May and again in July, lasting with a succession of 

 broods until Deceniber; while Cidaria ii/imanata seldom 

 lasts more than a month from its first appearance. Many 

 collectors even now confound the two species; but if they 

 would take the trouble to rear the two from eggs they 

 would soon see the distinction, and be amply rewarded, — 

 F. O. Standish; Cheltenham, June 16, 1877. 



Curious Food-plant of Nyssia zonaria. — I have suc- 

 ceeded this year in reaving, as far as the pupa state, a brood 

 of N. zonaria, hatched from eggs sent to me by a corre- 

 spondent at Birkenhead. They have been fed regularly on 

 the common yarrow {Ac/tillea inillejolium); but during my 

 absence from home in June, a young friend, whose botanical 

 knowledge is somewhat limited, treated them to a dose of the 

 garden plant known as "old man" or "southernwood," a 

 species of Artemisia, and, strange to say, they ate it as readily 

 as their proper food. Perhaps it may be discovered that 

 such an event is not wholly without parallel in a state of 

 nature. I. should say that I tried my larvae at first with 

 sallow, but they would not eat it all, while they took to the 

 yarrow at once. — [Rev.] C. F. Thornewill ; Burton-on- 

 Trent, August 1, 1877. 



Parasites on Larva of Bombyx rdbi. — About a fort- 

 night since I picked up on the hill -side a half-grown 

 cater])illar oi Bombyx rubi (the fox moth), which is abundant 

 in this neighbourhood, but this particular one attracted my 

 attention, inasmuch as it had several pale brownish cocoons 

 of a species of ichneumon attached to the hairs of its back 

 and sides, not in a cluster, but each separate, and standing 

 at right angles to the body. The larva did not seem any the 

 worse for these parasites; and I question very much whether 

 they properly belonged to it. 1 have this morning, August 

 21st, hatched three or four of the flies, and should like to 

 know what they are— probably a Microgaster ? — V. R. 

 Perkins ; Wotton-under-Edge. 



Prkservation of LAiWiii by Inflation. — The exhaustive 

 paper on this subject in the September number of the 

 ' Entomologist' (Entom. X. "225) leaves little to be added; 

 and my only object in writing is to say that those who do not 

 care to be at the trouble of making the " pressure-bottle," so 



