JSfotcs of an Entomological Excursion to the Ncio Forest. 219 



nata (single s-gecimen), Selidosema plumaria (males abundant 

 in heath near Lyndhurst, but only one female got), and 

 Cidaria psittacata in larval state. Eor the information of 

 botanists it was stated that in boggy parts of the heath just 

 referred to the local little Zycoj^odium inundatum was very 

 abundant. Gladiolus illyricus, however, appeared to be fast 

 disappearing from the forest — a single specimen in Fletcher's 

 Enclosure being all that was observed. 



Cuspidatas. — This is a group containing comparatively few 

 species, all of which, however, are particularly interesting. 

 With few exceptions they appear on the wing in early 

 summer or even in spring, while those that are double- 

 brooded — the Hooktips — do not appear the second time till 

 August or September. It was, therefore, almost entirely in 

 the larval state that examples of this group were met with. 

 These larvae present marked peculiarities of form ; and 

 several have a most grotesque appearance, noticeably the 

 "Puss" and the "Lobster." The four Hooktips — Platyj)- 

 teryx lacertula, P. falcida, P. lianuda, and P. unguicula — 

 appear to be pretty common in the forest. July, however, 

 is not the season for them — a^ single specimen of P. falcula, 

 and the larva of P. lacertula, being all that were observed. 

 The author was told on his arrival at Lyndhurst that a late 

 specimen of Stauropus Fagi (the Lobster) — which usually 

 appears on the wing in June — had been taken a few days 

 before ; and on the 18th July he had the satisfaction of 

 taking another — a male — with his own hands. It was at 

 rest on a beech and had to be climbed for, but otherwise was 

 easily captured. He had not the good fortune, however, to 

 meet with the remarkable caterpillar of this rare moth, 

 though several in a very young state were obtained by other 

 collectors. Of the fine genus Notodonta several were ob- 

 tained, the larva and the imago of N. camclina occurring 

 simultaneously. Nothing could more completely resemble 

 a withered leaf than this moth when at rest. Young larva3 

 of N. dromedarius and of N. ziczac were secured in the 

 very end of the month, and those of N. dictamdcs were 

 received from the forest in September. The finest cater- 

 pillar obtained was that of N. trepida. This insect, though 



