196 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



buttev-bur (Tussilago Petasites). Sometimes the presence of 

 the larva may be detected near the bottom of the stems of the 

 food-plant, but in most cases there are no visible signs to show 

 the presence of the insect so busy at work within ; and 

 perhaps the best way to find the insect is to pluck up a leaf 

 and examine the base : if sound, it is generally useless 

 examining further. The large plants, in a dry situation, are 

 the most likely. When full grown the larva eats its way 

 through the roots, enters the soil, and changes to a reddish 

 brown chrysalis, without constructing a cocoon of earth, — as 

 stated in Newman's 'British Moths,' — so far as my experience 

 goes, and remains in the pupal state about three or four 

 weeks. I found my first pupa when searching for larvae, 

 July 21st; and at the present time, August 16th, there are 

 several larvae still feeding, so that it is possible to find larva, 

 pupa and imago at the same time. Generally it is not 

 advisable to begin digging for the pupae till the third week in 

 August, as the pupae are then in a sufficiently advanced state, 

 and may be taken with the least risk of injury. This season, 

 lor the first time, I have noticed a few larvae have been 

 infested with a species of Filaria, or thread-worm, apparently 

 the same I have seen bred in larvae of Xanthia citrago. The 

 imago may be found by beating and examining the under 

 side of the leaves (withered leaves preferred) in Se])- 

 tember. Like most internal feeders, H. Petasitis is apt to 

 grease badly. — Jl. Kay. 



Eiiloiiwlogical Notes, Captures, S^c. 



Lepidoplera taken at South Shields. — On the '22nd July 

 last 1 collected here on the coast one specimen of Lithosia 

 (juadra; and on the 27t]i, two of Liparis chrysorrhcea, one of 

 L. auririua, and one of L. Salicis; the two latter insects being 

 new to this locality. L. chrysorrhcea was taken here two 

 years ago; it has also been taken b}' my esteemed friend 

 Mr. Wassermann, in his garden, at CuUercoals. Nonagria 

 Klymi has been plentiful on the sand-reed since the end of 

 June, and many of them are in fine condition still on 

 August lOlh. On Jidy 25th a worn female of Heliothis 

 {)clligcr came out of rcs:t-harrow, where I was kneeling lo bux 



