Insects. 9739 



deposited their eggs on sprigs of this plant. The batch of ova sent me by Mr. Baker 

 was the only one with which I had any success. From these eggs I was fortunate 

 enough to rear seven or eight larvoe, which have now spun up and assumed the pupa 

 state. I am happy to say that my friend Mr. Buckler, of Emsworlh, has, with his 

 usual skill, executed several most faithful drawings of this larva, and that he, 

 Mr. Hellins, of Exeter, and Mr. Baker have taken the larva themselves on the flowers 

 of M. pratense in the neighbourhoods of Emsworlh, Exeter and Derby. The plant 

 does not grow here, but Mr. Hellins has most kindly supplied me with fresh flowers 

 by post every three days. I cannot sufficiently thank this gentleman and my friends 

 Messrs. Buckler, Baker, Barrett and Hodgkinson for the trouble they have taken to 

 assist me in making this most interesting discovery. I subjoin a description of the larva 

 and pupa, which may possibly prove interesting to the readers of the ' Zoologist.' 



DESCEIPTION OF LAKVA AND PUPA. 



Somewhat short and stumpy, in shape and general appearance resembling the 

 larva of Eupithecia isograramala, TV. Ground colour pale, dull yellowish green. 

 Central dorsal line broad, continuous duil purplish red, enlarged into a somewhat 

 pear-shaped bloich on the centre of each segment. Subdorsal lines narrow, sinuous, 

 dull purplish red. Spiracular lines yellowish, very faint. Spiracles blackish. Head 

 yellowish, suffused with purplish red. Dorsal and subdo/sal lines sometimes merged 

 into one, leaving the whole back and sides suflFused with purplish red. A few slender 

 yellowish hairs sprinkled over the dorsal and lateral segments. Belly naked, pale, dull 

 greenish yellow. Central ventral line wanting. Subventral lines narrow purplish red. 

 Feeds on the flowers of Melampyrum pratense ; when quite young on the stamens 

 alone, afterwards on the whole corolla-tube. Full-fed from the middle of July to the 

 middle of August. Reared from eggs laid by moths taken on Breadsall Moor, near 

 Derby, by Mr. George Baker, 47, Kedleston Street, Derby. Pupa enclosed in a slight 

 cocoon either in a dry corolla tube or on the surface of the earth. General colour 

 golden yellow. Abdominal divisions and tip red. — H , Harpur Crewe ; The Rectory, 

 Draylon-Beauchamp, Tring, July 31 , 1865. 



Wasps and Fleas. — The number of female wasps in the spring appeared unusually 

 great, leading to the expectation of an unusual number of nests. I have not seen one 

 wasps' nest. There have been no wasps among the gooseberry-bushes, and none on 

 the wall-fruit. I have frequented the garden for weeks together without seeing a 

 single wasp. I mentioned this to a neighbour, some miles distant, whose garden and 

 walls are extensive, and found that he also had experienced a like absence, almost 

 total, of wasps, though he had noticed the numerous young queen wasps in spring. 

 He added that he was under the impression that fleas were notably less numerous of 

 late years than formerly. Having myself been under a like impression, and having 

 spoken of it, independently of my friend's observation, I am inclined to think there 

 may be truth in the remark. — W. H. Wayne ; IVenlock, August 12, 1865. 



Fireflies in Malayan India. — The Malays here and in many parts of the Archi- 

 pelago have jewels made for night wear, set, not with pearls or stones, but with little 

 round cages about the size of a pea, in each of which a firefly is imprisoned ; the litile 

 insect, excited by the narrowness of its cage, gives out even more brilliant and more 

 frequent flashes than when at large. The jewel could have no more pretty setting; it 

 is also a very cheap and a very harmless one, as the firefly is set free before the night 

 is over. I have read somewhere that these insects are impaled ou little golden 



