THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 203 



stated that Aphis bursaria forms a gall on the leaf-stalk of 

 the black poplar : is that on the Lombardy poplar caused 

 by the same insect ? I find swarms of a bluish Aphis in 

 those of the Lombardy poplar. — Henry Waring Kidd. 



[Mr. Walker believes that the galls of both the Lombardy 

 and black poplar are produced by Aphis bursaria, — E, A^.] 



Do Bomhyx Rnbi, dc.^ breed in Confinement ? — Are any 

 instances known of Bombyx Rubi, Saturnia Carpini or 

 Chcerocampa Elpenor, bred in captivity, pairing and pro- 

 ducing fertile eggs ? — H. M^Dowall ; Kettering, November 

 28, 1866. 



Captures at Northleach. — In addition to the insects already 

 named (Entom. iii. 167), I have taken this season four spe- 

 cimens of Agrotis pyrophila and A. aquilina, at sugar; and 

 two specimens of Agrotis cinerea and Luperina cespitis, at 

 light. — {Rev.) E. Hal let t Todd ; Aldswortli Parsonage, North- 

 leach, November 23, 1866. 



Phycis adornatella, Sfc. — I learn from Mr. Doubleday that 

 Mr. Gregson's Phycis, captured in the Isle of Man, is P. sub- 

 ornatella, and totally distinct from P. adornatella, the two 

 species being incorrectly combined in the Museum Catalogue. 

 In corresponding with Zeller that able Entomologist observes 

 that subornatella inhabits exposed barren places, while ador- 

 natella is found in grassy places where the wild thyme grows. 

 — Edwa rd Netcm a n . 



Reported occurrence of Xylina Zinckenii at New Cross. — 

 A single specimen of this insect, the Noctua Lamda of 

 Fabricius (Mantissa Ins. p. 174, No. 257), is reported to 

 have been taken by Mr. Harrington, on the trunk of a willow 

 tree, near New Cross, on the 30th of September last ; but in 

 my correspondence with Mr. Doubleday I find that eminent 

 lepidopterist has not seen the insect, so some doubt must 

 attach to the name for the present. Herrich-SchaefTer gives 

 two very beautiful figures of the species (' Noctuides,' tab. 

 28, figs. 135 and 136), but both this author (' Schmetterlinge 

 von Europa,' ii. 305) and Guenee (' Noctuelites,' p. 119) give 

 it the name of Zinckenii, and sink the Fabrician name 'of 

 Lamda as a synonym, the last-named Entomologist thinking 

 it " unlikely that Fabricius should have known a species that 

 must have been rare in his time." The fore wings are bluish 

 gray, variegated Vvith both lighter and darker markings, the 



