7824 bisects. 



and a female together. I did nut observe them in cop., but in a fesv days I saw the 

 female laying eggs. Her ovipositor was very long, and she felt about with it before 

 laying an egg, as if in search of a spot suited tojher purpose. The eggs were of a 

 regular oval, and of a milk-white colour. I left home before they were hatched.— 

 Thomas Fyles ; Point Levi, Canada, August 6, ISfil. 



Note on the Larvcc of the Genus Depressaria. — During the present summer I found 

 large quantities of larvie feeding at the top of thistles, both on the leaves and in the 

 stem. I expected of course to take a few scores of Depressaria carduella : what should 

 ihey turn out to be but D. angelicella, the same as those I was breeding from Angelica ! 

 I also found some scores of larvae feeding on Angelica sylvestris •. they were all De- 

 pressaria pimpinella, not a very common species. When I was in Cumberland, a short 

 time ago, my friend Mr. G. Mavvson had bred several Depressaria nervella from hen- 

 bane {Hynscyamm niijer). I have bred D. liturella, D. atomella, D. arenella, and 

 D. ocellella from umbelliferous plants. — J. B. Hodgkinson ; Penwortham Mill. 



Cynips Rosce spinusissimce. — Visitors to the sea-side in the summer months must 

 have noticed the curious red biiUs that beset the pretty little burnet rose {Rosa spino- 

 sissima). Hardly any part of the plant seems free ; the calyx itself is made to assume 

 unnatural proportions, while the stem and leaf-stalks offer a series of little wens of 

 varied size and form. These are the work of a tiny gall-fly {Cynips) that pierces the 

 plant and causes the sap to stagnate in these strange excrescences. Each ball is 

 usually tenanted by a single Cynips, which linds therein its nutriment and shelter till 

 it puts on wings and leaves its singular home. The galls are smooth, thus dififering 

 from the bedeguar of the hedge rose. This circumstance, I may remark, is the more 

 strange when we consider how much more spiny is the stem of the burnet rose than 

 that of our friend of the green lanes and hedges. I have lately hatched several of this 

 Cynips. Its characters are here given : — 



Cynips Eos^ spinosissim^, Inchbald. 



Colour black. Antennae geniculated, hairy. Head and thorax dull black, pitted 

 and doited over with gray pile. Abdomen shining black. Legs black, with the tarsi 

 paler. Insect much smaller than the Cynips Rosae. — Peter Inchbald ; Stofthes Hall, 

 Augtist 30, 1861 .—Intelligencer. 



Correction of an Error in Name. — The insect named by me as Eupoecilia dubitana 

 (Zool. 7860) is identical with EupcEcilia albicapitana described by Mr. Cooke in the 

 same page : I was not aware of this until it was pointed out to me by Mr. Cooke at 

 Liverpool. — Charles G. Barrett ; Camelon, near Falkirk, November 6, 1861. 



Descriptions of Larva. — Most earnestly do I entreat assistance in this department 

 of the science of Entomology : Mr. Crewe, Mr. Hellins and Mr. Buckler have already 

 exerted themselves nobly in this good cause, and I would far rather publish their 

 descriptions than my own ; but when entomologists decline the trouble, and will 

 favour me with the specimens, I shall be only too happy to devote my time to the 

 task. May I also venture on a request thai the six thoracic legs should always be 

 called " legs," and the abdominal appendages " claspers" .'' — the term " prolegs," 

 properly meaning "fore legs," is used without any rule or regularity, and is there- 

 fore objectionable : after reading Mr. Wormald's otherwise excellent description 

 (Zool. 7822) of the larva of Cidaria notata, I am quite unable to decide whether legs 

 or claspers are intended by the term " prolegs," — Edward Newman. 



Printed by E, Newman, 9, Devonshire Street, Bisliopsgiite Street, London. 



