36 THE entomologist's record. 



Synonymic Notes. 



By LOUIS B. PEOUT, F.E.S. 



The following synonymic notes require putting on record : — 

 Superfamily Hypsides; Deilemera [Nycteinera) adversata, Schall.= 

 plar/ifera, Walk. — In Der Naturforscher, xxiii., p. 52, pi. i., fig. 13 

 (1788), Schaller described and figured this conspicuous species under 

 the name of Phalaena [Geowetra) adversata, which has 66 years' priority 

 over Walker's name of plagifera. Apparently Der Naturforscher has 

 been little consulted by students of extra-European species, and it is 

 unfortunate that I did not make this identification in time for use by 

 Colonel Swinhoe in his valuable revision of " The Genus Deileinera" 

 {vide Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1903, p. 67). 



Superfamily Geometrides : Eriopygidia quadripunctata, Walk. = 

 liubrosea, Schaus. — W^alker'stype specimen of "Ypsipetes" quadripunctata 

 {List, 1711) was a disreputable example from Venezuela, and it is very 

 excusable that Mr. Warren, in arranging the British Museum Geome- 

 trides, passed it over as an example of Span/ania cultata, Guen. ; but it is 

 certainly in reality the insect which has been recently presented to the 

 Museum by Mr. Schaus as his Hammaptera subrosea {Trans. Amer. Ent. 

 Soc, xxvii., p. 268). I believe I am right in referring this species to 

 Eriopy(/idia,Weirr. {Xov. ZonL, vii., p. 175), rather than to Hammaptera : 

 the palpi and abdomen seem very characteristic, neither can I find the 

 peculiar hindwing structure which gives Hammaptera its name. I take 

 this opportunity to fix magnoUata, Guen., as the type of Spargania — 

 the only species of which he knew both sexes. This has already virtually 

 been done, both by Guenee himself, in the fact just named, and especially 

 by Warren, in erecting a distinct genus Eriopygidia {loc. cit.) with type 

 augustaria, H.-S. — Guenee's first species in order ; but I want to avoid 

 any possible risk of having augustaria made the type of Spargania, 

 according to the craze of the moment, and Eriopygidia consequently 

 wasted as a synonym. 



On some enemies of the Diurnal Lepidoptera. 



By CECIL FLOERSHEIM, B.A., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



My observation of the life-habits of the diurnal lepidoptera has 

 convinced me that whilst, in England anyhow, they enjoy a far 

 greater immunity from attack when on the wing than has generally 

 been supposed ; on the other hand, when at rest, they are exposed to 

 dangers which entomology has hitherto taken but little into account. 

 I have seldom seen a bird attack a butterfly when flying. Indeed, 

 the only instance I can remember is having once witnessed a sparrow 

 chase and catch a fine specimen of Argynnis adippe, which seemed half 

 paralysed by the pursuit. I saw a male robin once strike at Pyrameis 

 atalanta, but, on the butterfly turning, he made no further attempt, 

 and was, perhaps, only sexually excited to jealousy of the bright 

 colouring of the msect. Of course I am aware that in other countries 

 this is not the case, and that Scudder, Poppig, Hahnel and others 

 testify to the contrary. With dragonflies my experience has been 

 much the same, and, though I have watched them in the early autumn 

 hawking for small flies round a tank at home, I have never seen them 

 attack the Pierids or Vanessids which feed unconcernedly on the 



