132 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
are yellowish white, and in some specimens the markings are 
very indistinct, and only indicated by a series of cloudy spots. 
It feeds on Silene nutans, on which plant I captured the larva 
last summer in this district. It will eat S. inflata and 
S. maritima, but does not appear to like either. When full- 
fed it descends beneath the surface of the ground, and spins 
a slight cocoon of silk mingled with grains of sand, &c., and 
in this changes to a pale brown pupa. The imago emerges 
in June; but a precocious individual has just put in an 
appearance (April 28) in my breeding-cage, the first British 
bred specimen of Dianthecia albimacula.—H. Moncreaff ; 
High Street, Portsmouth, May 6, 1874. 
Economy of Phycis Davisellus.—A description of the full- 
grown larva of Phycis Davisellus has been already published, 
but as its earlier state has not been noticed the following 
information may be acceptable. ‘The eggs of P. Davisellus 
are laid in July and August on young shoots of Ulex cam- 
pestris, and as soon as the larve emerge they spin a thick 
net-work of silk round the branch, and under this feed until 
the approach of winter, when each forms for itself a close 
cocoon or tunnel of silk in which to hybernate. In early 
spring the larve lengthen these cases, and extend, as they 
increase in size, the silken web, feeding on the young buds 
and blossoms beneath it. On fine days they may be seen 
sunning themselves on the outer part of the web, but they 
retreat into their tunnels on the least alarm. The little com- 
panies of larve are very abundant in this district in winter 
and spring, and as the summer advances form conspicuous 
objects on the furze bushes. The larve cannot be dislodged 
by beating, and it is only by pulling their nests to pieces that 
their presence can be detected. The imago is figured in 
‘Morris’s British Moths’ as P. Palumbella, and under that 
name I have had it in my collection for several years.— 
H. Moncreaff. 
The Dor-beetle at Work.—In the afternoon of Easter 
Monday I was rambling over the extensive heaths in this 
neighbourhood seeking specimens or information; the cold 
winds and frequent showers put the collecting of Lepidoptera 
out of the question, and the numberless footprints around the 
bog were an intimation that a search for lapwing’s eggs 
would not be a very successful venture. As 1 stood upon a 
