THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 427 
caterpillar of the goat moth; and neither in the ‘ Ento- 
mologist’ nor in your book on moths can I ascertain the 
exact treatment. Last year I had two, which [ put under a 
bell-glass with some pieces of willow; but they both died. I 
should, therefore, esteem it a great favour if you would 
kindly inform me how I shall be best able to preserve it.— 
Arthur du Moulin; Rusina Villa, Leamington, October 8, 
1871. 
The bough or block in which the larva is feeding should 
be sawn off and covered with muslin. If you then leave the 
block alone until next June the moth will come out, and the 
muslin will prevent its escape. 
Slug Larva of the Pear.—The enclosed “slimy grubs,” 
larve of insects I do not recognize, have been sent me for 
information. They have suddenly appeared on some pear- 
trees, aud are doing great harm; they eat off the green 
surface of the leaves, allowing the lower cuticle to remain 
intact. Can you inform me their name and the perfect 
insect '—Egbert D. Hamel; Bole Hall, Tamworth, August 
21.1871, 
It is the larva of a sawfly of the genus Blennocampa, and 
has been most injurious to the pear-trees in the south of 
England during the present summer. My friend Mr. 
Birchall, and several other correspondents who have sent 
these slimy grubs, will kindly accept this answer. 
Variety of Polyodon.—On the 29th July, in the evening, I 
captured, in the waiting-room at Willesden Junction, a very 
dark specimen of Polyodon. The upper wings are very dark 
brown, nearly black; but the usual W is very distinctly 
marked. Is this dark variety at all common near London ?— 
William Wells, jun.; 12, Phillimore Terrace, Kensington, 
August 29, 1871. 
] have never seen one of the dark specimens taken near 
London. 
Variety of Zygena Filipendule.—I paid a visit to Cater- 
ham Junction the first week in this month (August), and 
found Filipendule in great abundance there. Among the 
many I took one male, in which the spots on the fore wings 
and the under wings are of a bright yellow, instead of the 
normal crimson colour, Is this abnormity at all rare ?—W. 
Wells, jun.; 12, Phillimore Terrace, Kensington. 
