214 VARIETIES. 



may sometimes be thus made to the noise ; but the principal 

 effect is otherwise caused. The insect, when disturbed or 

 alarmed, utters a low, angry, hissing sound, distinctly au- 

 dible at some distance. On the inner edges of the inflexed 

 margins of the elytra, are two small grooves, extending from 

 near the base, to within a line or two of the apex, where they 

 rather suddenly expand. The lateral edges of the plates 

 which cover the under side of the abdomen, are, when at rest, 

 lodged in these grooves ; and it is by their friction, (particularly 

 of the last segment but one, which works in the widest part of 

 the grooves) that the sound is produced. An imitation of it 

 may be made, by rubbing the edge of a piece of stiff paper in 

 the channel. Yours, &c. 



Bridgnorth, Nov. 22, 1832. ThOMAS MARSHALL. 



2\. Capture of the LarvcB of Deilephila Elpenor. — During 

 a visit to Chelmsford in August last, I was fortunate enough 

 to meet with twelve larvae of Deilephila Elpenor, feeding on 

 Galium palustre, among the flags and rushes by the river 

 side. 



They varied greatly in size as well as colour, some being 

 dark brown, marked with black streaks and ocelli on each 

 side of the thorax, and others of a beautiful green with similar 

 markings. This difference in colour I since find is considered 

 by some authors as showing the distinction in sex. On bring- 

 ing them home, I was unable to procure Galium palustre, 

 and therefore tried them with Epilohium angustifoliiim, and 

 other plants, on which they commonly feed on the continent. 

 In place of one of these, Impatiens noli tangere, I offered them 

 the American Impatiens bijlora, on which they fed voraciously, 

 and soon attained their full size. 



Understanding from my friend, Mr. Newman, that the larv^ 

 of some species of Deilephila change under dead leaves, &c. 

 on the surface of the earth, I placed some thin pieces of turf in 

 the cage, under which they immediately crept, and completed 

 their metamorphosis. The larvse of Deilephila Elpenor are 

 remarkable when feeding, for the extraordinary elongation of 

 the head, resembling a snout, a character I understand peculiar 

 to some individuals of this genus, of which this is the only 

 species I have seen in the larva state. 



Shortly after the discovery of these larvse, 1 had a very fine 



