9332 . Insects. 
food; and consequently that different species of spiders feed on different insccts. 
Thirdly. That the instinct of web-making spiders is so narrow and confined, that they 
are only impelled by nature to seize those insects which fly against, or otherwise inter- 
fere with, their webs, and this the quiet Depressaria had never done. If you or any of 
your readers will kindly enlighten me in this matter I shall feel much obliged.— 
E. Horton; Lower Wick, Worcester, October 10, 1864. 
PS. On unfolding the carpet this morning I missed my Depressaria, and saw a 
wing of the same species in one of the webs.—#. H.; October 11. 
New Locality for Gastropacha ilicifolia, with Description of Larva.—The following 
is a description of a larva taken on the 3rd of August near Lynton, North Devon, in a 
wood abounding with bilberry: —A Bombyx larva, apparently full fed, length one inch 
and three-quarters. Head and body hairy, cream-coloured, dusted with black. Hairs 
on back dark, short; on sides in long white fascicles (a few darker interspersed) curving 
downwards. Head pale drab, the black atoms on it in longitudinal bands. On the 
second segment a reddish blotch, bordered with black atoms; a series of markings, 
something like the ace of clubs, down the centre of the back, embracing the dorsal 
line, formed of thicker black atoms, blackest on the fourth segment, into which run 
lateral stripes of black atoms, from each black spiracle directed backwards. An indistinct 
spiracular line of black atoms. Legs reddish, with black spots; claspers the colour of 
the body, with a black stripe on the upper surface, orange underneath. Along the 
ventral line a chain of black spots, very large and conspicuous, from commencement 
of the claspers to the anal segment, gradually sinaller towards the head. The larva 
was sickly when taken, and is still in a bad way, probably ichneumoned. The above 
description agrees in the main with that of G. ilicifolia given in Stainton’s * Manual.’ 
Its resemblance to a Gastropacha larva makes me think it must belong to that species. 
—E. Horton. PS.—I have just received a note from Mr. Buckler, in which, referring 
to the above, he says, “ The larva skin, which I return to you, is undoubtedly that of 
G. ilicifolia."— Rev. EB. Horton, in ‘ Entomologist's Monthly Magazine’ for October, 
1864. 
Life-History of Liparis auriflua—In a recent number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 
8969), Mr. Clifford, of Chelsea, expressed his surprise at finding the larva of Liparis 
auriflua in October, and also at its “ hybernating occasionally,” and Mr. Newman asks 
“Ts this fact new?” In the succeeding number, the Rev. H. Harpur Crewe ex- 
presses his astonishment at Mr. Clifford’s surprise, and states that this larva always 
hybernates. Undoubtedly Mr. Crewe is correct, and I may add that there is not a 
month in the twelve in which it may not be found. The full-grown lJarve generally 
remain in some quantity until the middle of July, and the earlier portion of the suc- 
ceeding brood hatch about the close of the month, and in August become abundant. 
Had Mr. Crewe added to his remarks a short life-history of this insect, which appears 
to be less known than that of many of our more rare Lepidoptera, it would have been 
acceptable to some of the readers of the ‘ Zoologist.’. The eggs are laid during July 
on the under side of the leaf of many of our common trees and shrubs, especially the 
hawthorn, in batches of twenty to thirty, and are covered with down or fur by the 
parent moth: they batch in about ten days, and the young larve feed in company 
until October, moulting twice, and then prepare their winter quarters; at this time 
