NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 137 
observation or upon hearsay ‘I cannot find any evidence. Although 
I have searched the ‘Entomologist,’ ‘Entomologist’s Monthly 
Magazine,’ and the ‘Entomologist’s Weekly Intelligencer,’ for 
many years back, I have failed to find any mention of this species 
feeding upon the plant mentioned. Mr. Stainton, in his ‘ Manual,’ 
is silent upon the point, which would seem to indicate that he was 
not thoroughly certain about it. During my investigations I find that 
Mr. T. Kedle captured several in the year 1860, when EH. venustula 
was considered a greater rarity than now, and which capture he 
chronicled in the ‘Entomologist’s Weekly Intelligencer,’ and 
from which I presume he procured ova, for in a communication 
from him he states that he tried to breed H. venustula, having in 
the beginning about three hundred larve feeding during the 
month of July, that he fed them upon TZ’. reptans, upon the 
flowers of which they at first appeared to thrive, but gradually 
showed a distaste for their food, and commenced to prey upon 
each other to such an extent that ultimately but one was left. 
He further stated that if he should attempt to breed them again 
he would do so separately. This would point to the fact that— 
like Cosmia trapezina, Scopelosoma satellitia, and others—the 
species in question is of a cannibalistic tendency, which I fail to 
find mentioned in any work on the subject. His remarks would 
also lead to two assumptions, viz., that he did not keep them 
sufficiently supplied with fresh food, or that the food was not 
adapted to them during their more advanced stages. The former 
could be easily proved by feeding them separately ; but if the latter 
assumption is correct, then 7’. reptans is not the proper food. 
I find that Mr. E. G. Meek has succeeded in breeding it upon 
Tormentilla reptans, but he states that it is a difficult and delicate 
thing to rear. The specimens, contrary to the usual rule, are not 
nearly so well marked, nor in any respect so fine, as those which 
have been captured. ‘This would likewise tend to prove that 
T. reptans is unsuitable as a food-plant, and I shall be very 
pleased to hear from anyone who has had experience in breeding 
it, and to what their experience leads them. Coming as this note 
does apropos to the time when EH. venustula should be on the 
wing, perhaps some of our friends, especially those who work the 
Horsham district, who will doubtless take some during the current 
month, will take the trouble to get a batch of ova and settle the 
question, or, what will be preferable, search the blossoms of 
Q 
