Miscellaneous. 405 



the penis, and placed between two triangular papillae, from which 

 spring two long white caducous filaments, as in the Cocci dae generally. 

 The author ascertained the occurrence of these apterous males by 

 rearing them ; and he describes their development. The eggs are 

 laid about the 1st of May, and hatched about the 20th to 25th of 

 May, when the young larvae disperse themselves over the maples, 

 attaching themselves under the leaves and growing very slowly. 

 They are then of an elongate ovoid form, pointed behind and covered 

 with spines, whence the generic name. When the leaves fall the 

 insects make their way to the bark and prepare for their winter 

 sleep, which does not last very long. An enclosed larva in December 

 or the beginning of January is sure to secrete through all its spines, 

 which are really spinners, a felted cottony material which envelops 

 it like a cocoon, closed in front, but transversely cleft behind. The 

 cocoon finished, which is about the 14th of January, the insect casts 

 its skin with the spinning-tubes, which has become useless, and 

 rejects it through the posterior fissure. It then acquires a more 

 elongate form, and appears as a small sac filled with liquid, having, 

 as shapeless appendages, the two antenna3 and the six legs, which 

 have scarcely any traces of articulation, and are only 0-009 millim. 

 long. This pseudoni/mphal state lasts a week, when there is a new 

 change of skin, which is again got rid of through the posterior 

 fissure, and the true nymph appears. It has the limbs more deve- 

 loped ; the legs are 0'045 millim. in length, and show their articu- 

 lations very clearly ; the antennae, although smooth and ringed by 

 ten small lines, show by transparence the mouiliform antennae of 

 the perfect insect forming in their interior ; in a fortnight the perfect 

 insect bursts this third envelope and rejects it again by the posterior 

 fissure. Then appear the points of the two white filaments secreted 

 by the insect, and which lengthen daj- by day ; finally the elegant 

 little animal escapes backward, runs along the stems of the maples 

 in search of the females, copulates, and dies. It is then the female's 

 turn to surround herself with a cocoon and to fill it with eggs, 

 which will give origin to the next generation. — Comptes Rendus, 

 February 20, 1882, p. 499. 



Note on Euripus consimilis of Westwood. 

 By Arthur G. Butler, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 



I have just received from Mr. J. Wood-Mason an interesting paper 

 upon the Le[)idopterous genera Earipas and Peatheinciy the illustra- 

 tions to which are admirably faithful. 



In this paper Mr. Wood-Mason has been unfortunate enough to 

 fall into error, owing chiefly to the brevity of Westwood's diagnosis 

 of E. consimilis. It runs thus : — 



" Diadema consimilis, Westw., nov. sp. 



" Northern India. CoU. East lud. House. 

 '• Diadema alls albis, anticis costa, venis, strigis tribus obliquis limbo- 



que apicali nigris ; posticis albis, venis anguste, limbo apicali (albo- 

 Ann. ct- Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 5. Vol. ix. 28 



