159 



Art. XXXV. — Varieties by Various Contributors. 



36. Yponomeuta padella. Another instance of the depredations of the larvae of some 

 insect is occurring in the squares in the north of the metropolis. The tree attacked in 

 this instance is the common hawthorn, and in many of the squares, as Torrington, Ta- 

 vistock, Russel and Mecklenburgh Squares, not a hawthorn tree is to be seen that is 

 n ot almost stripped of its foliage. The caterpillar that produces this destruction is of 

 a dark colour, and forms a web which it spreads over the branches of the tree, giving 

 them the appearance of being 'covered with some fine cloth. Although the hawthorn 

 in these squares is surrounded by other trees, I could not discover that any of these 

 were in the slightest degree attacked by the insect in question. — Edwin Lankester ; 

 University College Hospital, June 9, 1841. 



[The caterpillar produced a small white moth, with black spots : it is the Ypono- 

 meuta padella of authors. E. N.] 



37. Sympetrum ruhicundum. On the 1st of June a young gentleman of the name 

 of JMarsh took a single specimen of this rare dragon-fly in Epping Forest. — Edward 

 Douhleday ; Epping, loth June, 1841. 



38. Hydroessa pygmcea. My dear Sir, — About a fortnight since while botanizing 

 on the borders of Duddingston Loch, near this city, I captured eighteen specimens of 

 Hydroessa pygmsa, Dufr., all I could find at the moment; none of them winged. I 

 have visited the Loch two or three times since, in order to obtain more, but have not 

 been able to find a single additional specimen. I am not aware of this insect having 

 been observed since Mr. Haliday discovered it in Ireland ; and send you the present 

 notice of its capture, in case it may be of sufficient interest for the Varieties of ' The 

 Entomologist.' — Yours very truly, Roht. Kaye Greville ; Edinburgh, lOth July, 184L 



39. Manufacture of Oil from Cockchafers. " We learn from the 'Journal de I'Ar- 

 rondissement du Havre,' that an experiment, highly interesting to all who are engaged 

 in agricultural pursuits, has just been tried by M. Breard, Mayor of Harfleur, and 

 owner of an oil-manufactory at Gonfreville-l'orcher. This gentleman in May last gave 

 notice that he would buy as many cockchafers as could be procured, at the rate of one 

 franc the hectolitre.* From 17 hectolitres of cockchafers M. Breard obtained 28 litres 

 of oil, which burnt well, and with a bright clear flame. It is to be regretted that the 

 experiment was not made earlier in the season : however, we may hope that next year 

 the women and children will do their best to collect an abundant supply of these de- 

 structive insects. Agriculturists will feel grateful for their labours, and they may them- 

 selves find the employment a profitable one. It may be remarked that the apple-crop 

 has this year almost entirely failed in some parts of the arrondissement, owing to the 

 ravages of the cockchafers." — From the Constitutionnel of Monday, July 5, 1841. 



40. Aphides and Honey -dew. Much having been written lately about Aphides and 

 honey-dew, allow me to add my mite by recording what I witnessed some years ago, 

 when residing in the country, and in the habit of noting 



" Plants, trees and stones, 



Birds, insects, beasts, and many rural things." 

 A cherry-tree, trained against a wall with a western aspect, was annually much infested 

 by Aphides. Towards the evening of a summer's day, I found great numbers of the 

 Aphides at supper on the upper part of the tree, and whilst they were feeding, they 

 ejected a clear transparent fluid in such quantities that it fell in a regular shower, the 



* A hectolitre contains one liundixd litres, and is rather more than two bushels (Enghsh).— £. A'. 



