1888.] 237 



Description of the larva of Nothris durdliamellus. — In June last I met with 

 the larva of Nothris durdhamellus not uncommonly on the chalk a few miles from 

 Lynn. From these I reared the moths at the end of July. Although a compara- 

 tively common species in the chalk districts of the south of England, it has not, as 

 far as I am aware, been previously observed further north than Essex. 



Its larva is so pretty and curious that it deserves a more detailed notice than it 

 seems hitherto to have received. It is slender and active, having the tremulous 

 motion of the head and anterior segments so characteristic of the Oelechiidce. 

 Colour greenish-white with smoky-brown dorsal and sub-dorsal lines, spots white 

 with black centres. The third and fourth segments are curiously swollen, and en- 

 tirely of an intense black, so that the creature looks as though two thick black rings 

 had been fitted upon its body. Head black, dorsal plate greenish in front, black 

 behind, anal plate not visible, feet black, claspers whitish. It joins together the 

 edges of a leaf of marjoram {Origanum vulgare) from the upper-side, and lives in 

 the tube thus formed, feeding on the tip of the leaf. When it has eaten the tip 

 away it moves to another leaf and joins its edges in the same manner, so that each 

 larva makes many tubes. When full-fed it leaves its habitation and pupates on the 

 ground.— Chas. G-. Barrett, King's Lynn, Norfolk : September lUh, 1888. 



Habits of Coccyx distinctana and Orapholitha nigricana. — Early this summer 

 I discovered that in a wood to which I obtained access, and which consisted largely 

 of firs of different species, there were, here and there, silver firs (Pinus picea), many 

 of them of fair size, some very large. Upon these in June I found Coccyx distinctana 

 scarce at first, but towards the end of the month more plentifully. C. tcedella 

 (hyrciniana) was at the same time abundant among the spruces (Pinus abies) with 

 C. nanana in smaller numbers, and the former often strayed to the silver firs, but 

 except in very violent storms of wind, I never found distinctana among spruce. 



The sexes of this species differ considerably in colour, the male being grey- 

 brown with the fascia narrow, and the female much tinged with richer brown and 

 with a far broader fascia. 



I noticed a curious and rather suggestive circumstance in the habits of this 

 species. It is hardly necessary to state that nearly the entire month of June was 

 cold, with N. and N.E. winds, for no one can havo forgotten it. but the 25th was an 

 exception, a genuine summer day, hot and calm. On this day I found distinctana 

 in plenty on the lower branches of the silver firs (where they had previously been 

 scarce), and great numbers of them were in cop. The females were in fair condition, 

 though not perfectly fine, having been out for a week or two, but the males were so 

 worn as to be hardly recognisable. Yet none appeared to have paired previously 

 and it seems probable that but for this one hot day, distinctana might have almost 

 disappeared from this locality. On this same day the first specimens of Orapholitha 

 nigricana appeared, attaohed solely to Pinus picea. Others occurred from time to 

 time until the middle of July, but always rarely. — Id. 



Tliecla w-album at King's Lynn. — Sixteen or eighteen years ago I saw 

 several Tlieclm flying about the top of a wych elm a few miles from Norwich, 



M 



