Insects. 9333 
they are about half an inch long. A suitable retreat is chosen about the thicker stems 
of the food-plant, under loose or projecting pieces of bark, or in the concave surface of 
a curled leaf. An outer cocoon-like web is first spun; this finished, each larva forms 
for itself within the web a distinct little egg-shaped cocoon, flexible, of close texture, 
and very tough; the number of cocoons in each web varies. I have several lying 
before me: ove contains five, another three, another two, and others have only one 
each. Within these little cocoons the larve lie coiled during the winter, leaving them 
in spring to feed on the newly-expanded foliage under which they shelter until the 
young shoots of the plant have progressed; they then seek the more juicy food which 
these supply, and being now nearly full grown and of bright colour, become con- 
spicuous objects on the hawthorn hedges. From the end of June to the middle of 
July they retire for the purpose of pupation, spinning up among the surrounding 
foliage or other suitable places that may offer, and in a fortnight or three weeks the 
perfect insect appears.—George Gascoyne ; Newark, October, 1864. 
Description of the Larva of Thera coniferata.—At the beginning of the present 
year a few eggs were sent to me by a friend. Six hatched; of these only one, I am 
sorry to say, came to maturity. .When full grown it was short and stumpy, extremely 
like the larve of some of the Eupithecie. Head pale brown. Ground colour grass- 
green. Dorsal line broad, pure bluish white; this is bordered on each side by a slender 
stripe of the same colour. Spiracular line the same. These stripes are all very clear 
and well defined. Segmental divisions yellow. Prolegs pink. There are no dots or 
marks. It is one of the most sluggish creatures I eyer saw, lying for hours, even days, 
in the same place, just stretching itself to get at the food within reach. It remained 
a long time in the larval state, as it was hatched the third week in March, and did not 
spin up till June Gib. It effected this change between moss and the sprig of juniper 
on which it was feeding, so unwilling was it even then to move. The pupa is dark 
grass-green, abdominal segments lighter. The perfect insect appears in three weeks. 
—Rev. J. Greene, in ‘ Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine, p. 71. 
Immense Swarms of Syrphus Pyrasiri.—Any lover of Entomology could not fail to 
read with interest the various communications from your correspondents in the 
*Zoologist’ and ‘ Entomologist, of the occurrence of multitudes of Syrphus Pyrastri, 
which has lately made its appearance in such incredible numbers, and over such au 
extent of coast; and your scientific comments on the history of the insect and the 
probable cause of its occurring in these countless myriads in the past season. Having 
witnessed a similar occurrence ov the Sussex coast, which, being so widely separated 
from the localities in which the appearance of the insect in such profusion has been 
recorded, I thought it might be worth sending to you what IT have myself observed. 
While staying at Eastbourne, in the nronth of August, I noticed large quantities of 
this fly settling on the various flowers; but on bathing on the 18th of August, while 
taking a swim out, about fifty yards from shore, I passed through a line of these 
insects, of various sizes, dead, and floating with the tide in an easterly direction. 
This line was about a fuot in width, and, from the conformation of the coast at this 
part, I have no doubt it extended for many miles. A few days later, being on the 
shore near Seaford I saw a great number of the same insect, which settled on any 
flowers that might be at hand, on the beach, and many on my own clothes whilst sitting 
down to rest.—James Dutton; Hammersmith, September, 1864. 
