458 : THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
[In a case like this, where the names have been confused 
and frequently transposed, it would be interestIng if my 
correspondent can state positively whether the species 
intended is the old Quercus of Linneus, now usually called 
Callune, or the Quercus of Doubleday’s List, which I have 
suggested should be called Familiaris. Most entomologists 
are sufficiently acquainted with these insects to have formed 
an opinion of their distinctness or otherwise, and, therefore, 
can easily make it apparent to which they refer.—Edward 
Newman. | 
On Breeding Acherontia Atropos—On the 23rd inst. a 
fine male specimen of Acherontia Atropos emerged in one of 
my cages. ‘The specimen was bred from a larva brought to 
me at Lyndhurst, as already recorded. The larva was of the 
olive variety, with white spots on the anterior segments; it 
was full fed, and buried August 2lst. The pupa I kept 
moist on flannel laid over twigs and moss, and-its cage was 
placed in the kitchen as near the stove as possible. I took 
care to leave a kind of bank in front of the pupa, so that it 
had something to press against when the imago was ready to 
emerge. I also placed two twigs exactly in front of it for the 
imago to crawl up. I think I moistened the moss and flannel 
about half a dozen times after removing it (the pupa) from 
the earth. I send this because it appears that it is considered 
rather a “slice of luck” to breed Atropos on the first trial. 
Apropos of this larva I may mention the following, which 
occurred to me, and shows what curious ideas of natural 
history in general many persons have:—The cage in which I 
transported the larva from Lyndhurst to London happened to 
be rather insecure, so the larva, which was roaming about in 
search of a place to bury in, amused itself by coming out and 
taking exploring excursions round the railway-carriage (a 
first-class one). The first time it escaped it was discovered 
crawling under the seat, and a lady who was in the carriage, 
and was much struck by its appearance, enquired (quite 
seriously), “Is the creature a fish?” I was, previously, 
unaware of any likeness existing between a Lepidopterous 
larva and a fish. Perhaps the lady imagined it was “a 
walking perch.”—Bernard Lockyer; 179, Camden Road, 
London, N.W., October 30, 1871. 
Larve of Bombyx Rubi burying in the Earth.—On the 14th 
