198 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



pillar does not exhibit any symptoms of uneasiness when 

 handled," whereas I never saw in any caterpillars such pettish, 

 jerking, affronted manners as in the only two (as above) I 

 have ever taken. — [Rev.\ Windsor Hamhrough ; Great Mal- 

 vern, August 1, 1872. 



Acronycla Alni. — On the 29th of last month (July) I found 

 the caterpillar of Acronycta Alni feeding on an alder in a 

 meadow near here : the dorsal markings are very fully deve- 

 loped on all the segments, being of a rich yellow colour, 

 bordered with pale canary. — \_Miss'\ Ada Steele Perkins; 

 Ashgrove, Overton, Fllntsliire, August 2, 1872. 



Cucullia Lgchnilis and C. Asteris. — In the month of July, 

 1870, 1 collected a iew larvee of Cucullia Lychnitis, at Box- 

 hill, and also at Riddlesdown. Several specimens emerged 

 the early part of June, 1871 ; and in May, 1872, one specimen 

 emerged from pupa; and on examining some other cocoons, 

 I found several pupas with the imago perfectly formed, — but 

 dead. I have now Cucullia Asteris lying over apparently in 

 the same way, having bred seven specimens early in June, 

 1872, from larvae collected at Darenth in August, 1871. 

 I believe it is not uncommon for the species of Cucullia to so 

 lay over. — James Bryant ; 63, Old Broad Street, Aug. 1872. 



Larv(B of Mamestra Persicarice. — M. Persicariae is again 

 abundant in the larva state this autumn ; almost more so than 

 it was last season. I have noticed one or two points in the 

 habits of this larva which I think may be of interest to some 

 of the readers of this journal. This year I began to search 

 for them early, as I found last autumn that a large proportion 

 of full-fed ones were ichneumoned. I find them especially 

 attached to mint, off two or three plants of which, in our 

 garden, I have taken about fifty or sixty. They rest by day, 

 always on the under side of the leaves, generally along the 

 midrib, extended at full length. When disturbed they first 

 elevate their anterior segments into an arched form ; and if 

 the annoyance be continued let go their hold, and hang 

 suspended by a thread (a habit I do not recollect noticing in 

 any other Noctua larva). The position they hang in is rather 

 peculiar, their bodies being rolled into a ring, but the head 

 not held on the same plane as the rest of the body, but 

 elevated in the centre of the coil. In this position they hang 

 till the disturbance is over, when they quickly draw them- 



