178 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



large and beautiful example of the black variety lole. This is the 

 second that has fallen to my net, having captured another on the 

 same ground four years since ; but that specimen was much worn, 

 whereas the present insect is but little removed from a bred one 

 in condition. — E. Sabine; 17, The Villas, Erith, Kent. 



Apatura Iris. — The larva of this beautiful insect was recorded 

 for the first time by Mr. Drury, who took it on the 26th May, 

 1758, whilst beating the sallows near Brentwood, Essex. — J. 

 Humble Ealph, July, 1881. 



Stridulation in Arctia caja. — While examining a speci- 

 men of Arctia caja this morning I permitted it to walk up my 

 hand. During the act of crawling it suddenly and several times 

 uttered a sound as loud as, and similar to that produced by, the 

 death's-head {Acherontia Atropos). So remarkable was the noise 

 that my brother, who was in the room at the time, left his work 

 and came over to see what caused it. I have never seen any 

 notice of stridulation in this species, and should be glad to know 

 if any of your correspondents have made a similar observation. — 

 Edward Lovett; Holly Mount, Croydon, S.E., July 22, 188J. 



Abundance of Orgyia Antiqua in London. — Without fear of 

 contradiction the Vapourer Moth may be said to be the commonest 

 in town, go where you will up street, down street, or " all round 

 the square." For some weeks to come you will be sure to see the 

 little brown gentleman dancing about, ziczacing in the sunshine 

 both morning and afternoon. Although the insect is so common, 

 I would call attention to the extraordinary number of larvae which 

 have appeared this season in London, Persons walking up 

 "The INI all," for instance, can hardly fail to have observed the 

 condition of the lime-trees in that avenue, more especially from 

 Buckingham Palace to Marlborough House. Some few are quite 

 denuded of leaves, only the skeletons and midribs being left ; 

 many have large boughs served in the same way, and looking up 

 at these boughs defoliated by the innumerable jaws that have 

 been at work upon them we can soon see the cocoons of this 

 moth, not one here and there, but in regular clusters, so abundant 

 are they. The thorns in the parks, too, have been almost as 

 badly served. In passing along the Mall this morning I observed 

 numbers of cocoons spun up on the bark of the plane-trees, and 

 here and there a female had covered them with her eggs ; while 



