318 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



larva feeds chiefly on oak, but is reported also to eat beech and 

 blackthorn, as well as low plants. It is full-fed in May and June, 

 when it pupates in an earthen cocoon, and the imago emerges in 

 autumn. Continental authors place Mesogona immediately fol- 

 lowing Pachnobia. 



Robert Adkin. 

 JJewisham, November, 1895. 



Description of the aoove specimen of M. acetosellce, F. 



Female. Primaries greyish brown, finely dusted with black 

 scales principally along the costal and inner margins ; the neura- 

 tion, which is indistinctly defined, is rufous, adding a general 

 reddish tone to the whole surface ; there are two transverse 

 distinct whitish curved lines crossing the wing, widely separated 

 on the costal margin, approximating to one-half on the inner 

 margin, the first at basal fourth, edged outwardly with brown, 

 the second running parallel to the hind margin, internally edged 

 with darker brown ; these lines enclose the orbicular and reniform, 

 which are slightly darker than the ground-colour, and are clearly 

 and finely outlined with creamy-white ; a submarginal series of 

 blackish triangular spots bordered externally with pale crenu- 

 lations; hind margin crenulated and dark-spotted; fringe ochreous, 

 edged with dark fuscous. Secondaries paler, and inclining to 

 pinkish, with a darker marginal band, and a very indistinct central 

 transverse pale line inwardly edged with dark ; hind margin 

 crenulated and wavy ; fringe ochreous and rufous. Head and 

 thorax same colouring as primaries ; abdomen ochreous ; legs 

 and antennae rufous-brown, latter whitish at base. Expanse 1| in. 



F. W. F. 



A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF LEPIDOPTERA.* 



Amongst the numerous works of a more or less systematic 

 and scientific character which have recently appeared or are 

 appearing on the British Lepidoptera, Mr. Meyrick's 'Hand- 

 book ' is entitled to a foremost place. It is handy as regards 

 size, not one of the least qualifications for a handbook, moderate in 

 price, complete in regard to containing all our well-authenticated 

 species, convenient to the learner in its tabulations of families, 

 genera, and species. 



In order to secure some of these advantages, it is compressed 

 and abbreviated to a degree ; repetitions are severely avoided, so 

 that, unless one looks in the right place, an omission of some 



* 'A Handbook of British Lepidoptera.' By Edward Meyrick, B.A,, 

 F.Z.S., F.E.S., &c, Macmillan & Co., 1895, 



