SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 295 



east side. So constant was this that in the morning I saw them only 

 on the west side, and particularly noted that I did not see one on the 

 east, whilst at noon none appeared, on the south slope, and in the 

 afternoon they appeared only on the east side, the west being now 

 deserted. In each case they preferred being directly opposite the sun. 

 There was one hollow that led down to a field of sainfoin, whilst 

 beyond this was a field of clover, and here I found that C. hyale 

 distinctly preferred the sainfoin but Colias ediisa (which was quite as 

 common as C. hyale) preferred the clover. Of the latter species I also 

 took a long series. — C. P. Pickett, The Rayenscroft, Columbia Road, 

 Hackney Road, London, N.E. Aufjust dOth, 1900. 



The systematic position of NonagpvIa beevilinea. — Why is this 

 species — brevilinea — classed with Nonagriidae ? The larva is not in 

 the least like a Nonagriid larva, and I should say the insect is much 

 more a Leucania than a Nonayria. Can anyone explain ? — H. M. 

 Edelsten, F.E.S., Forty Hill, Enfield. Angmt 2nd, 1900. [We 

 suspect that Mr. Edelsten is referring to the position out-of-date 

 authors have given this species — Newman, &c. — but surely the 

 Leucaniid affinities of this species are now well recognised. If Mr. 

 Edelsten will refer to The British Noctuae and their Varieties, vol. i., 

 p. 37 (1891), he will find the insect described as Leiica?iia brevilinea, 

 and in our little work British Moths, p. 135 (1896), we state: " L. 

 brevilinea was supposed to be a Nonagria by Newman, but has since 

 been determined to be a Leucania.'" — Ed.] 



Note on the cry made by the laeva of Acheeontia ateopos, L. 

 ■ — The plaintive cry that the imago of Acherontia atropos makes when 

 disturbed is well-known, but entomological savans are not at all agreed 

 as to the manner in which the cry is produced. Some consider it to 

 be due to the rubbing of the tongue against the head, or of the palpi 

 against the tongue. Others attribute it to air escaping by the stigmata 

 from the base of the abdomen, or to the passage of air contained in a 

 cavity of the head being liberated from the tongue. The following, 

 if not a contradiction of the above theories, is at least a modification 

 thereof. At the end of last July, M. Naniot sent me a fine larva of 

 A. atropos to preserve for our forthcoming exhibition. What was our 

 surprise, at the moment of operation, to hear this mysterious cry, 

 common in the imago, made by the larva. On this occasion it 

 appeared evident that the cry came from the buccal organs of the insect, 

 and the larva seemed to open its mouth each time the cry was heard. 

 A complete anatomical study of the larva ought to show us certainly 

 if this noise is a true cry, analogous with those of the higher animals 

 and which is made by the insect under stress of great excitement, or 

 is only produced by the rubbing of one organ against another, a view 

 scarcely admissible. Mr. F. Castin assures me that this cry is well- 

 known to those who rear the larvae but has not been explained, whilst 

 Mr. F. Andernack read a note at the last meeting of the Societe 

 Entomologique de Namur, on the cry of the perfect insect. — L. 

 J. Lambillion, 25 Rue Pepin, Namur, Belgium. September 11th, 

 1900. 



Note on hybrid Closteea cuetula x pigea and C. pigra x 

 cuetula. — The hybrid C. }nyra ^ x curtula ? would appear to be 

 generally triple-brooded, at least, last year a number came out in 

 October, and this year the larvae have already pupated, and one can 



