THE BRITISH PSYCHIDES. 157 



no imago having been seen, makes the evidence for parthenogenesis in 

 this case somewhat doubtful. I am extremely disappointed that I have 

 not secured fresh material of this species, and that no one has been 

 able to supply it. 



S. lichenella, L. As to this species, for which I instituted a vigorous 

 search, I am left at present in the greatest doubt. I have come across 

 two very distinct forms, either of which may be the insect. 



First, Mr. Whittle found and forwarded to me from May 2nd a 

 number of cases more or less trigonal, 8 x 3-5mm. in measurement, 

 smooth, pale brown in colour, which he had found upon a very rotten 

 post on the Thames marshes. These cases produced females only, 

 which promptly commenced to lay into the case itself, the empty pupa 

 shell, as always in Solenobia, projecting from the opening. These eggs 

 produced larvte on June 6th, which are still alive and very vigorous, 

 feeding upon the lichen (rotten wood ?) and dead insects. This species 

 is undoubtedly parthenogenetic. The other form which I have found 

 is still crawling up posts alongside the railway line here at Mucking. 

 This case, 6 x 2-5mm. in size, which I have also found on the tree- 

 trunks, is almost flattened, the appearance being produced by a flange 

 of lichen around the edge of the case, which is applied flat to the sup- 

 porting surface. The opening of the case is parallel to the lower sur- 

 face, and therefore applied to the support. These cases, to my intense 

 disappointment, have produced nothing to repay my care. They seem 

 to go off quickly when imprisoned, whatever care be taken of them. 

 Opening a number which I considered to be dead, I found one packed 

 with empty egg shells (no pupa shell), some with dead larvae, and quite 

 a, number with iarvte and pupae of a small ichneumon. Nothing else 

 has emerged. Which of these two is to be considered to represent S. 

 lichenella I am at a loss to know. The measurement of the case given 

 by Tutt is 5-6xl'5mm., which scarcely agrees with either of my 

 captures. Nor can I divine which the other case represents, unless 

 it produces something lepidopterous. 



Yet another Solenobia case has been sent to me by Mr. Whittle, 

 from Eannoch. He found the cases upon lichen on rocks. 

 The case is wonderfully like that which I assign to S. hiconspicuella. 

 These produced only females, the first of which bears date May 24th. 

 The cases measure 5*6 x 2-5mm. From these there hatched on June 

 13th, a large number of young larvfe, which 1 doubt not will be im- 

 possible to rear, though they are at present feeding upon Mucking 

 tree -lichen. One cannot help wondering which this Solenobia can be, 

 whether one of the inconspiciiella group, or some new species. 'But 

 unless the Scottish climate keeps them back they are far too late for 

 moat known species. 



Talejjoria tubulosa. I have again been unfortunate with this species. 

 It is quite evidently not common, here I have had one brought in from 

 palings near by, but it had the pupa skin projecting. All others sent 

 me have been empty. 1 had a rather strange experience with this 

 species. The ova of Fumea casta (?), which I secured from Mucking 

 females (2) last year, produced a number of larvae which, as I remarked 

 above, came to nothing, but amongst them were a number of undoubted 

 tubulosa ! These last actually outlived the casta, but are I fear now all 

 defunct. They seemed to enjoy damp, dead foliage, and spent their 

 lives down underneath it, whence, of course, it is possible that some 



