309 



cue some of her statements from the undeserved obloquy they have so 

 long lain under. The authorities he adduces in her defence will put 

 the question finally at rest, even without the parallel case, or nearly 

 so, obserA'^ed by one of her chief opponents. Whether her observa- 

 tions on the luminosity of the Fulgora will be verified is yet uncertain ; 

 there is only the same sort of negative evidence against that statement 

 that there is against the bird-destroying propensities of the Mygale. 

 Dr. Cantor, who is now in China, and has the opportunity of examin- 

 ing them in their native habitats, does not venture to decide against 

 them, but suggests that the luminosity may be only apparent at parti- 

 cular periods or seasons ; but should the non-luminosity of the Chi- 

 nese species even be proved, it will not settle the question of Fulgora 

 lateniaria's beaming splendour in the wide open plains of the west- 

 ern hemisphere. — Id. 



168. Captures of Lepidoptera on Sallows. The following is a list 

 of my captures of Lepidoptera from the 25th to the 31st of March. 

 With the exception of Ceropacha flavicomis, all were taken from 

 the flowers of sallow at West Wickham Wood and Dulwich Wood. 

 I had hoped to have sent you a longer list, but the cold wind since 

 the 1st inst. has prevented any but Orthosia cruda and stabilis from 

 making their appearance. These two species are most hardy : I found 

 them feeding during showers of sleet, when no other moth was to be 

 seen. On favourable evenings the Noctuse that visit the sallows begin 

 to fly about half an hour after sunset ; they wheel rapidly about the 

 trees, as if selecting a blossom, and then settle. If at this time a light 

 be directed towards them, they immediately fly off", but in a quarter 

 of an hour they remain, and are taken with the forceps most easily 

 until half-past 8 or 9, after which few are to be found. My attention, 

 and I doubt not that of others, has been directed to the examination 

 of the sallows this spring, by Mr. H. Doubleday's communication of 

 his discovery of their being frequented by moths. I think the thanks 

 of entomologists are due to him for his liberality in publishing it, and 

 1 here tender him mine. 



Ceropaclia flavicomis, one Orthosia stabilis, al.)uodant Semiopliora gotbica, abndt. 



Calocampa exoleta, one spavsa, one Acliatia piniperda, one, W. 



Glaea Vacciuii, abundant munda, seven Wickliam 



rubricosa, two miniosa, ten Xanthia croceago, ten 



Ortliosia cruda, abundant instabilis, two 



I also found two larvae of Noctuae, apparently difierent, feeding on 

 ihe Jlowers of the sallow, which I hope to rear. — J. W. Douglas ; 4, 

 Waterloo Place ^ Cohurg Road, Kent Road, April 9, 1842. 



