12 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 



convex, but usually straight and diverging a little toward the dorsum, 

 which it reaches scarcely beyond the middle; the costal patch, equi- 

 distant between the second fascia and the apex, is inverted, and 

 reaches half across the wing— these markings are conspicuous and of 

 uniform width ; cilia shining bronzy-grey. Exp. aL ^ 7-8mm., ? 

 8-9mm. Hindwings shining bronzy; cilia bronzy-grey. Abdomen 

 greyish fuscous; genital segments of ^ strongly developed. L^^^s pale 

 greyish fuscous. 



Type $ (95987), ? (95988). Mus. Wlsm. B.M. 



-Haft. Sioily: Taormina, 1-3, v., 1918 (FZsHi.). Eight specimens 

 (5 a^s, 3 ?s). 



In the $ the markings are precisely similar, but there is a slight 

 silvery sheen at the extreme base of the dorsum ; in neither sex is 

 there any purplish colour at the base. 



I have carefully compared these specimens with four in the Zeller 

 Collection and one in the Stainton Collection — all original specimens 

 of eximiella, Z., received from Mann and labelled " Etrur." The 

 average size of my species is certainly larger ; I was at first inclined to 

 regard them as that species, especially as Chretien [Le Naturaliste 30 

 (2s. 2) 60 (1908)] has stated that the ? of eximiella has the same 

 silvery bands and costal spots as the c? , thus separating it at once 

 from aruncella, Sep., and seppella, F., but it must be remembered that 

 this discovery refers to specimens taken at Digne, which may possibly 

 have been wrongly identified. I have a J (81721) from Rome (iv., 

 1893, Wlsm..) which has no markings, but it was taken there at the 

 same time as eximiella 3 , and is certainly smaller than calthella, L., 

 and has no violet at the base of the forewings. 



The Sicilian specimens differ from the Tuscan, as well as from 

 Zeller's description, in the following points : first, there is no violet 

 tinge at the base of the forewings in the J ; secondly, no reddish tinge 

 along the costa ; and thirdly, it is observable in all the specimens of 

 eximiella that the first fascia stops slightly before reaching the costa, 

 whereas in uxoria it distinctly reaches it in all instances. 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Food-plant, and rearing, of Hydroecia crinanensis. — A few days- 

 since I received from Mr. L. A. E. Sabine thirteen magnificent bred 

 specimens of a Hydroecia, which he suggested were probably B. 

 crinayiends. Having examined the genitilia I found that his guess 

 was correct. In response to my request he has kindly supplied me 

 with the following details of his discovery, which, with his consent, 

 I now publish, as far as possible (because of space limitation), in his 

 own words ; — 



" On June 22nd this year I noticed a plant of ' Yellow Flag ' {Iris 

 jjseudacoris) which had the central leaf of one of its main shoots 

 slightly withered. I, of course, investigated, and found that a larva 

 had been feeding in the stem, but had departed. I thereupon deeided 

 to make a thorough search for other affected plants, and after examin- 

 ing a few more was rewarded by discovering a larva about two-thirds 

 grown. After an afternoon's hard working I had seventeen larvae, 

 varying in size from half to full grown, but only two of the larger 

 size. In every case the larva was found feeding in the shoots which 



