9154 Mollusks—Insects. 
The Boring Snail of the Bois des Roches, §c.—In an article in the ‘Zoologist’ 
(Zool. 9012), on the “ Boring Snail of the Bois des Roches,” the accuracy of statements 
made by the late Dr, Buckland and by Mr. Jeffreys is called in question. I should be very 
unwilling to doubt such authorities ; and I cannot think that so accurate and painstaking 
a conchologist as Mr. Jeffreys would publish anything “relying on the statement of [even] 
Dr. Buckland,” without quoting his authority, unless he was himself cognisant of the 
fact. There seems no doubt about the “ boring faculty ” of the Helix hortensis: may not 
the Helix aspersa and other snails possess the same? I remember, when I was a boy, 
noticing a portion of a garden wall, near Limerick, built of the dark gray limestone so 
common in that locality, which was a favourite haunt of the H. aspersa. The under 
surfaces of some of the larger stones, where the mortar had partially fallen out, were 
every year tenanted by these snails, and exhibited a number of circular depressions, 
varying from one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch in depth, and from half an inch to 
an inch or more in diameter. I often took snails from these holes, which were, I believe, 
formed by these animals. I have frequently regretted since that I did not secure one 
of these perforated stones. It is a curious fact, that although these snails and lime- 
stone walls both abounded in this locality, I never found the perforated stones in any 
other walls. I may not have looked carefully enough, as I was then but a young con- 
chologist, and cared for little more than making a good collection of shells —W. Hill 
Evans ; Bradford, Yorkshire, April 20, 1864. 
Do the Larve of the Genus Argynnis Hybernate ?—I suppose there is no reason to 
doubt that the British species of Argynnis oviposit during the summer months, and 
that they do not, like the Vanessas and others, come forth in early spring for that pur- 
pose. Now, in what stage are the insects during the winter? are they ova, or larvae, 
or pupe ? No entomologist of my acquaintance has ever found these butterflies in any 
of these states during the autumn or winter months. Yet one can hardly imagine 
that the ova, laid in August at the latest, remain unhatched till the ensuing year, when 
the different species of Viola are sufficiently grown to afford them sustenance. A. Paphia, 
it is said, feeds also on species of Rubus and Urtica. We know, moreover, that our 
species of Melitea do hybernate in the larva state. It is to be regretted that, owing to 
the Diurni being readily taken on the wing, few entomologists devote any attention to 
their larva. It would be well for those who reside in those spots where A. Adippe and 
A. Aglaia are most abundant to seek out and publish the histories of their larve, of 
which in this country scarcely anything is known.—John R. S. Clifford ; 21, Robert 
Terrace, Chelsea, June 14, 1864, 
Economy of Sesia tipuliformis.—This insect, which was first, I believe, recognised 
entomologically from specimens taken in Whitehead’s Grove, Chelsea, is still pretty 
numerous in this locality. The young larve enter the smaller twigs of the currant 
bushes, and proceed downwards towards the stems. I have found no examples of their 
working a fresh track upward, although they will sometimes pass up and down a mine 
already formed. When full-grown, which is generally about the middle of May, the 
larva forms a cocoon of the pith and frass, usually selecting for its resting-place the 
junction of a branch with the stem, or of a small branch with a larger one. The imago 
appears in about three weeks. The females fly very little, and the males only during 
