THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 291 



shape of a moth being acceptable at this time of the year, I 

 boxed a few of them. I believe the species to be Tinea 

 pallescentella, although the time of its appearance seems 

 abnormal, Stainton giving August as the usual time. The 

 females much exceed the diuiensions given in the Manual, 

 some of them reaching one inch in expansion of the wings. 

 Stainton states that the larva feeds on corn, and there are 

 several corn warehouses not far distant ; but 1 did not find the 

 moths in or on them, but on the walls of the offices, ash- 

 pit, &c., and I think it probable that the larva3 fed on the 

 accumulations of rubbish therein. I shall be glad to send 

 examples to anyone who cares for them. — Edwin Birchall ; 

 Kirkstall Grove, Leeds, November 24, 1872. 



The Food of Erlstalis. — I have been asked by a corre- 

 spondent, "What is the food of Eristalis tenax ?" the querist 

 having reason to believe he had discovered pollen granules 

 in its stomach. My answer is clear and decisive — "Pollen," 

 The hypothesis of museum and closet entomologists that the 

 Syrphidae or Muscida? cannot convey solid food into the 

 stomach, because of the haustellate character of their instru- 

 menta cibaria, is a beautiful and convincing proof of our 

 disposition to accept " what ought to be," rather than to 

 enquire of Nature herself " what is," her order in this respect. 

 Eristalis feeds chiefly on pollen, and most of the Syrphidse 

 follow its example ; the common house-fly eats various 

 solids, and masses of these substances may be found in the 

 stomachs of these Diptera undissolved and unaltered after 

 passing through the entire length of the leathery and exten- 

 sile promuscis. — Edivard Newman. 



Pairing of Butterflies of Different Species. — At the 

 beginning of last June I found two butterflies of different 

 species in the act of copulation, sitting on a plant of mustard 

 which had been allowed to run to seed : the male was Pieris 

 Rapse, and the female Anthocharis Cardamines ; the Carda- 

 mines was slightly rubbed. I plucked the plant they were 

 sitting on, and placed the whole thing in a large wire-cage. 

 They separated, however, shortly afterwards; and next morn- 

 ing the female was found dead, without having deposited a 

 single egg.— Z. G. Pike ; The Grove, Hiyhgate, N., Novem- 

 ber 27, 1872. 



Wild Khubarb. —Noiicws the observation made on this 



