Insects. 8243 



was taken by a friend of my own in one of the above-named ^ears, and this specimen 

 is now in my cabinet. It is an unusually large female in fine condition. It was seen 

 flitting several times up and down a broad walk in a kitchen garden, and settled at last 

 on a leaf, expanding its wings in the sun, when it was tiken. — fV. Oxenden Hammond; 

 St. Alban's Court, near Wingham, Kent, October b, 1862. 



Occurrence of Sphinx Convolvuli near Sheerness. — Yesterday a seaman belonging 

 to H.M.S. " Cutnberlaud '' brought me a specimen of the above, but it was perfectly 

 useless, the body having been transfixed by a large copperuail, and the wings confined 

 to the slip of wood upon which it was placed by means of glue ! It was staled to have 

 been caufjht upon a telegraph post near Sheerness, about three weeks previously. — 

 Henry L. Saxhy ; H.M.S. ^^ Devonshire,'' Sheerness, September 23, 1862. 



Larva of Ourapteryx sambucaria. — I lately took a larva of Ourapteryx sambucaria 

 feeding on ivy. Two days since I hastily removed some of the ivy leaves, intending 

 to replace them with fresher ones, and in so doing I disturbed and broke through the 

 silken thread, with which it had tied itself down to the stem, preparatory to transform- 

 ation, which I had not observed to be approaching. The following day, on looking to 

 see if the larva had again secured itself, it was not visible, but on turning over the 

 earth at the bottom of the cage I found it buried rather deeply. Thus, the disturbance 

 I had accidentally caused to the insect appears to have caused it to change its ordinary 

 habit, and to adopt a totally altered arrangement for its transfonnatiou. — W. Oxenden 

 Hammond ; St. Albans Court, near Wingham, October 14, 1862. 



Larva of Ennomos erosaria var. canaria. — At the end of August of the present 

 year I took a larva feeding ou Ainus glulinosa (alder), of a dark red colour, but in 

 other respects it does not well agree with Mr. Newman's description of the larva of 

 Ennomos erosaria (Zool. 8173), as the crescentic white mark on the lolie of the crown 

 and the continuous white line across the face were both wanting. There was also a 

 great discrepancy in the time of feediug, time of appearance, &c. My moth came out 

 on the 4ih of September, a tine specimen of Ennomos erosaria var. canaria. — H. J. 

 Harding, Deal, September 29, 1862. 



Occurrence of Ennomos alniaria near Deal. — The other evening as I was returning 

 from collecting Aporophila australis, &c., when nearly at my own door, 1 saw a large 

 moth flying about a gas lamp, which at first I thought looked very like Ennomos tili- 

 aria. I was not long before I had it in my box, and when I got it home I found it 

 was a fine female of that r.ire insect Ennomos alniaria. — Id. 



Description of the Larva of Abraxas ulmala. — Robust. When disturbed drops 

 immediately and suspends itself by a thread. Head and legs deep black. Back 

 creamy yellow, forming a broad stripe. Down the middle runs a slender uninterrupted 

 black line; this ig succeeded by a broader, uneven, subdorsal stripe, also black; 

 then follows a white line, another black, another white, and another black. Lateral 

 stripe chrome-yellow, having two black spots in each segment. Anal legs black, bor- 

 dered with yellow. Claspers dirty yellow. A yellow stripe also ruus down the belly. 

 The black markings are very intense, and the dififerent stripes clearly defined. Length 

 an inch and a quarter. Feeds on the wych elm in woods and plantations throughout 

 September and beginning of October. Like the perfect insect, it is a heavy, sluggish 

 creature, and does not seem to thrive in confinement. It appears to have the power 

 of producing an almost unlimited quantity of silk. Wherever I have met with this 

 insect ii has been in boundless profusion. Give the tree a tap with your slick, and 

 down comes a whole shower of larvae. — /. Greene ; Cubley Rectory, Doveridye, Derby, 

 October 3, 1862. 



