THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 57 



my belief that the males of all the species emerge first, with 

 a few exceptions.'' I differ entirely from him in thinking 

 that the males of Lepidoptera are far more numerous than 

 the females. As 1 have argued, we aee much fewer of the 

 latter in a state of nature, but when bred in confinement 

 I think it will be found that they bear a pretty close propor- 

 tion to each other. There is vahiable evidence on this head 

 given by Mr. Birchall (Entom. ii. 337). In five large l)roods 

 the proportion was — 



MALES. FEMALES. 



L. caniola ('64) 52 .... 49 



„ 065) 150 .... 150 



C. fascelina 25 .... 2'6 



A. prodromaria 19 .... 19 



D. capsophila 24 .... 23 



270 263 



Thus, out of 533 specimens, there was a preponderance of only 

 seven males. I conclude willi reiterating my earnest request 

 that, during the forthcoming season, your readers will care- 

 fully observe whether the males or females emerge firvSt in 

 their breeding-cages. It will not be necessary to carry the 

 observations farther than the first two or three days of the 

 appearance of each species. — {Rev.) J. Greene ; Cubley liec' 

 lory, Uitoxeler. 



Query refipecting Cheer ocawpa Porcellus and C. Elpenor. 

 — Are the above likely to be found so far north as Leicester- 

 shire, as I am particularly desirous of adding these pretty 

 Sphingida3 to my collection? — F. Wilkinson; Hiyh Street^ 

 Market Harborouyh. 



Insect-enemy of the Turnip. — Another destroyer of the 

 turnip was a footless grub, ol one-quarter to half an inch in 

 length, pointed before and truncate behind, quite while, and 

 with jet-black mandibles. This, which I take to be a 

 dipterous larva, had eaten into the crown of the turnip, be- 

 tween die leaves, and then directly downwards, forming holes 

 as stout as a large knitting-needle ; and as from lour to a 

 dozen of them would be found in each bulb, iliey caused sad 

 destruction by admitting air and moisture, and soon caused 

 the turnip to decay. — T.J. Bold, in ISaiiiral-Hidory Trans- 

 actions of North mnherland and. Darliam. 



