256 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



15th two larvae of Acherontia atropos, found feeding upon potato 

 leaves, were brought me, nearly full-fed. The caterpillars of the 

 gooseberry sawfly (Nematus ribesii) have been veiy troublesome 

 this year, and we have been greatly annoyed by the attacks of the 

 leaf-cutter bee, or bees, for both species {Megachile centuncularis 

 and Anthoco pa papaveris) may have been the guilty depredators. 

 Not alone were the rose-leaves selected, but fuchsias were cut up 

 almost into ribbons ; and geranium-flowers (those of a salmon- 

 colour being preferred) had large circular patches taken out of 

 almost every petal, causing them to present a sorry figure. The 

 first week in August another pest came to the fore, the truly dis- 

 gusting larvae of the jiear-tree slug (Selandria cerasi). These 

 were busy on pear trees and cherry trees, doing their best to skele- 

 tonize the leaves, or at least the upper surface, for I could detect 

 none on the lower. Are there two species of sawfly, or are both 

 larvae, those of the pear and those of the cherry trees, identical ? 

 Of butterflies, the common Pieridce have been excessively 

 abundant, settling in patches on the watered roads, and sipping 

 up the moisture thus afforded. Beyond these, and the Vanessas, 

 io, atalanta and cardui, and such-like species, always to be met 

 with, there have been very few again this year. — Joseph 

 Anderson, jun. 



On the Urticating Properties of the Hairs of Liparis 

 chrysorrho3A. — Merrin in his ' Calendar ' (apparently quoting 

 some other author), says that the larva of Liparis chrysorrhcea 

 is " painfully undesirable to handle," and Dr. Knaggs uses 

 exactly the same expression. For some time I was entirely at a 

 loss to understand what was meant ; and, even now, I cannot say 

 that I fully comprehend the phrase as applied to the larva, 

 although I have found from experience — a very " painful " expe- 

 rience too — that the breeding of Liparis chrysorrhcea is anything 

 but a pleasant operation. But is it the larva which is so " pain- 

 fully undesirable to handle," or has the phrase been copied from 

 one authority to another, as is so frequently the case? Certainly, 

 after a rather extensive acquaintance with this species during the 

 last two years, I have felt no ill effects from the larva. I cannot 

 say the same of the cocoon, for, within a minute or two of 

 touching one, my face and neck have been covered with eruptions, 

 very much resembling "nettle-rash," accompanied by an in- 

 tolerable itching. For some time I could not bring myself to 



