NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. Ill 



the heads and spin their cocoons amongst the rubbish at the roots 

 of the plant, while the larvae of P. lapijella fasten two or three 

 of the seeds together, in which the_y hybernate and remain in the 

 heads till the moths emerge. Another error appears to have 

 been copied by one author from another respecting the larvae of 

 Catoptria candidulana (ivimmerana), which are said to feed in the 

 roots of ArteJiiisia maritima in winter. The larvge feed on the 

 seeds of the plant in the autumn, and when full fed form their 

 cocoons on the surface of the earth. I reared a fine series of this 

 moth last season. — William Machin ; 29, Carlton road, Carlton 

 Square, E., Feb. 20, 1887. 



Early History of Lita knaggsiella. — In response to 

 Mr. Threlfall's request (Entom. 65), I beg to say that I did not 

 take Lita knaggsiella freely at Hasleraere. It was very scarce, 

 and I doubt whether I took more than a dozen, certainly not a 

 score altogether, although I worked very hard for it in successive 

 years. I also spent hours in searching Stellaria holostea and 

 graminea in the immediate neighbourhood of trees from which I 

 had captured it, but never found a larva. The moth seemed to 

 frequent oak trunks in places overgrown with bushes. It had, 

 however, previously been reared from Stellaria holostea, in 

 Germany, although mistaken for juiictella, Dougl. It is recorded 

 in the 'Entomologist's Annual,' 1866, p. 167. — Charles H. 

 Barrett, King's Lynn, March 9th, 1887. 



Protective Value of Colour and Markings in Insects. — At 

 a meeting of the Zoological Society of London on March 1st, 

 Mr. E. B. Poulton read a paper containing an account of his 

 experiments on the protective value of colour and markings in 

 insects (especially in Lepidopterous larvae) and their relation to 

 Vertebrata. It was found that conspicuous insects were nearly 

 always refused by birds and lizards, but that they were eaten in 

 extreme hunger : hence the unpleasant taste failed as a protection 

 under these circumstances. Further, conspicuous and unpala- 

 table insects, although widely separated, tended to converge in 

 colour and pattern, being thus more easily seen and remembered 

 by their enemies. In the insects protetced b}^ resembling their 

 surroundings it was observed that mere size might prevent the 

 attacks of small enemies. Some such insects were unpalatable, 

 but could not be distinguished from the others. In tracing the 



