143 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



The Emergence of Anther^a. from the Cocoon. — In reference to 

 Mr. Dodd's note on this subject (ante, p. 16), I should like to say that 

 in 'Australian Lepidoptera,' a work published in part by Scott and 

 concluded by the Australian Museum, reference is made to the hooks 

 with which the moth makes its exit in the following words : — " It was 

 at this time our attention — being directed to the care of the numerous 

 specimens in our possession emerging from the cocoons — was naturally 

 attracted by the peculiar and loud noise produced by the imago in that 

 operation for freeing itself, which led to a more careful observation, 

 and to the discovery that the sound thus created was caused by two 

 powerful hooked appendages of a horny substance placed one on each 

 side, immediately at the junction of the base of the anterior wing to 

 the thorax while in the act of tearing and destroying the strong 

 fibrous texture of the nest, previously, however, moistened by a 

 solvent fluid, until a rude and irregular aperture was made. During 

 this action the insect maintained a slow rotatory motion until the 

 hooks were plainly visible to us, appearing and disappearing alter- 

 nately, and quickly and irresistibly calling to mind the sound produced 

 by the gnawing of that domestic torment, the rat." He concludes by 

 remarking that he found all the Anthermi were provided with similar 

 hooks; and he also found them in two foreign species of Saturnidae — 

 i. e. TropcRa luna and Telea poli/ijhemiis. 1 myself have bred out several 

 A. astrophela lately, but, unfortunately, have missed them when 

 emerging. Vol. i. of Mr. A. W. Scott's work was published in 1864 ; 

 vol. ii. in 1890-1893. — Henry H. Burton Bradley ; 60, Margaret 

 Street, Sydney, March 18th, 1902. 



Insecta of Surrey. — In the first volume of the ' Victoria History 

 of Surrey' over a hundred pages are devoted to the Insecta, and pro- 

 bably never before has so full a list been got together for any county : 

 perhaps there is no other county for which, with our present know- 

 ledge, one equally ample could be prepared. In some cases we are 

 given lists only of the species known, in other cases we have such lists 

 with localities, while of a few orders — e.ij. the Orthoptera, Neuroptera, 

 Lepidoptera, and Homoptera — the lists are presented in narrative 

 form, and these last we prefer. Those who have worked up a local 

 list of any kind know how difficult it is to make it complete ; but 

 there is evidence that the work before us has in general been well 

 done, and this record of Surrey insects may be looked upon as fairly 

 complete, as far as our present knowledge permits. Everyone is of 

 course aware that many additions must be made as time goes on, but 

 ■that fact will not prevent the present list being of very great use to 

 entomologists who reside or occasionally collect in Surrey, as well as 

 to all who are interested in the distribution of species. 



