286 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



(excluding L. sinapis, L. argiolus, and L. agestis) were seen 

 during the first fortnight of our stay, viz., from July 18th to 

 August 1st ; and on August 7th, in a lane about a mile long, 

 leading from Sowley Pond to Beaulieu, we saw no less than 

 twenty-four species in the course of twenty minutes, and every 

 one of these was a regular inhabitant ; indeed we came across no 

 casual visitors, C. edusa and G. hyale being conspicuously absent. 

 In the Forest we could but notice the absence of collectors. 

 Although we frequented the more generally known parts for nine 

 of the available eighteen days, we only met three ; and from some 

 wood-fellers we had the information that there was more to be 

 taken at night than during the day. However, as our day work 

 proved sufficiently interesting and remunerative, we neglected the 

 sugar and the lamp ; and, all things considered, have every reason to 

 be satisfied with our first visit to this interesting and pretty locality. 

 Dovecote Villas, Wood Green, N., Aug. 20, 1885. 



ERIOPELTIS FESTUCM, Fonsc, A SCALE INSECT NEW 

 TO THE BRITISH FAUNA. 



By G. C. BiGNELL, F.E.S. 



For several years I have been familiar with the sight of little 

 objects looking like tiny tufts of white cotton-wool adhering to a 

 grass {Festuca hromoides) in certain localities, but I did not 

 investigate their nature till lately. Having become interested in 

 Microgasterides, and so learning to know their little woolly 

 cocoons, I thought of these little tufts on the grass, and in my 

 experiment to find out if they contained ichneumons I discovered 

 their real nature, namely, that they are the females of the above- 

 named scale insect. 



Through the autumn the female becomes more and more 

 thickly clothed with this woolly envelope, and I am sure her 

 appearance would at first deceive the keenest entomologist, and 

 make him think he had an Ajmnteles cocoon before him, from its 

 size, shape, and colour, and the way in which it is fixed on the 

 grass. On further examination, however, with a lens he would 

 begin to be puzzled with the number of short curly ends 

 projecting from the mass, unlike the spun thread of any cocoon. 



The male is a little two-winged fly, without any covering, 

 but, curiously enough, having two long filamentous tails. 



