THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 57 



about the mouth and on the sides of the lobes. Medio-dorsal 

 stripe dull, dark green ; it is narrow from the 6th to the anal 

 segment, but takes the form of a gradually-widening broad 

 stripe from the 2nd to the 8lh, where it is widest; it is inter- 

 sected in the centre of the 2nd and 3rd with a fine purplish 

 line; subdorsal lines of the same colour as, but fainter than, 

 the medio-dorsal, and bordered outside with a pale yellow 

 stripe; there are no perceptible spiracular lines. The hump 

 on the 12th segment is dark purplish brown, and a number 

 of black horny spots form a sort of collar round the 2nd 

 segment, just behind the head; segmental divisions yellow; 

 trapezoidal dots on the anterior segments— on the broad part 

 of the medio-dorsal stripe— very black and distinct, but not 

 noticeable on the others ; spiracles large and distinct, pinkish, 

 surrounded with black; ventral surface yellowish green, 

 without markings ; legs and claspers pinkish brown. Rests 

 with the front and anal segments raised and thrown back- 

 wards, — the usual Notodonta attitude. — Geo. T. Porritt ; 

 Huddersfield. 



Explanation of the Phylloxera Plague. — In a paper read 

 before the Paris Societe d'Acclimatation, Dr. Turrel suggests 

 that the rapid spread of the Phylloxera Vastatrix in France 

 is due to the scarcity of small birds in that country. Forty 

 years ago, he says, linnets, tits, &c., were numerous in Pro- 

 vence, and in the autumn they could be seen posted on the 

 vine branches, carrying on a vigorous search after the insects, 

 and larvae and eggs of insects, concealed in the cracks of the 

 stem and leaves of the plant. Since the commencement of 

 the present century, however, it is easy to perceive that the 

 destruction of small birds has been carried on more and 

 more generally; and that, concurrently with this war of 

 extermination against the feathered tribes, the numbers of 

 destructive insects have increased at an alarming rate. Dr. 

 Turrel thinks that, though it cannot be absolutely maintained, 

 that the oidium and the Phylloxera,— the two latest forms of 

 vine disease (the one a vegetable, the other an insect parasite), 

 — owe their frightful extension to the scarcity of small birds; 

 yet it is unquestionable that a plant like the vine, weakened 

 by the attacks of insects, is less in a condition to withstand, 

 the ravages of parasites; and that, deprived of its feathered 

 protectors, and left to the successive and unchecked onslaught 



