THE ENTOMOLOGIST. OgQ 



confinement. It is singular that I never had such a thing 

 occur with Dicranura vinula, though I have fed up hundreds 

 of" the larvae. — J. M. S. Clifford. 



Liparis dispar at JVundsworth. — I do not like to add 

 Mr. Greville's record to the number of doubtful instances of 

 which he speaks, yet truth obliges rae to state a circumstance 

 which makes it questionable whether this occurrence is not 

 capable of another explanation. Some years ago myself and 

 a friend discussed how it was that the species, as bred in 

 captivity, was so different in size, and somewhat different 

 also in markings, from what is presumed to be the typical 

 form. Some suppose that these are descended from a northern 

 type; others think it is dwarfed by being so bred in-and-in, 

 or through inappropriate food. By way of experiment, it 

 was resolved to liberate some larvae at a suitable spot, placing 

 them on sallow (which is supposed to be the most healthful 

 food), and watch the result. The spot chosen was Wimbledon 

 Common, — one tolerably sheltered, and on the verge of the 

 Common towards Wandsworth. How many were placed in 

 the bushes I cannot say, — probably from fifty to a hundred, 

 most of them having passed the last ecdysis ; but, through 

 unavoidable hindrances, I could not visit them until, in the 

 natural course of things, they would have formed their 

 cocoons : of these, however, I discovered no trace, nor 

 subsequently could I find the insect thereabouts in any stage. 

 This would have been in the year 1866 or 1867. But now 

 this question arises, as the locality is not far from South- 

 fields, did my liberated individuals establish the species in 

 the neighbourhood, and so occasion Mr. Greville's capture, 

 and perhaps others ? Against this it might be urged that the 

 moth is reputed to be sluggish in its habits, to which cause 

 the limitation of its distribution in these islands has been 

 attributed. Very few localities have been recorded where 

 the species occurred during the present century ; and had 

 L. dispar bred up in Wandsworth or its vicinity for a number 

 of years past, it would surely have been noticed by one or 

 other of the many energetic collectors residing in that district. 

 The point must at present be undecided. — Id. 



The Hybernation of Liparis aiirijlua. — Rennie, and other 

 authors of the earlier part of this century, speak of the 

 hybernation of this species under a common web. I do not 



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