272 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Entomological Society. 



July 3, 1865. — Mr. Bond exhibited Enpifbecia campaiiu- 

 lata, a species new to Britain, bred by the Rev. H. Harpur 

 Crewe from larvae found in a birch wood near Tring, Herts, 

 feeding on ihe unripe seeds and seed-capsules of the nettle- 

 leaved campanula (C. Trachelium, Linn.), in August, 1864. 

 See Zool. 9-260. The perfect insects emerged in June, 1865. 

 Also Eupithecia pulchellata, bred at the end of May last 

 from pupae sent to him by Mr. C. S. Gregson, of Liverpool, 

 who found the larvae on the foxglove. 



Mr. Bond also exhibited three specimens of Toxocampa 

 Craccse, bred from eggs sent by the Rev, E. Horton to Dr. 

 Knaggs ; the larvae fed for the first day on Lathyrus praten- 

 sis, subsequently on Orobus tuberosus, and eventually had 

 choice between the last-mentioned plant and Vicia Sepium, 

 and fed freely and indifferently on either. 



The Rev. Hamlet Clark read the following portion of a 

 letter from Lieut. Hobson : — "I have caught an insect two 

 inches long, and for the number and beauty of its lights I 

 never saw anything to equal it, nor indeed has any European 

 or native to whom 1 have shown it. The Lampyris in ques- 

 tion is of a dirty pale orange-colour, and of the thickness of 

 a goose-quill. It can contract or elongate itself at pleasure ; 

 has eleven segments or rings ; with the exception of the first 

 and last, is studded with a pair of lamps of more than 

 emerald brightness ; constituting in all eighteen lamps, nine 

 on each side, each light being of the diameter of a small- 

 sized goose-quill. The insect exhibits slight streaks of black 

 on the dorsum of the first two segments, whilst the common 

 Lampyris has well-marked black lines on the back of all its 

 segments ; its habit is sluggish, and it differs from the com- 

 mon variety in this respect. It would bury itself deep in the 

 earth, rendered soft by a free sprinkling of water, and never 

 show itself unless forced out for examination. The common 

 Lampyris would shun the light of day ; and at night, unlike 

 its shy neighbour, would stealthily creep out of its hiding- 

 place, and, with tail erect, open the window of its single 

 lamp and shed forth a bright light all round. To examine 

 the new insect it is necessary to touch it, and then it will 

 curl itself up and impart the resemblance of a ring studded 

 with 'jewelled lamps,'" 



