84 



being the larvae of Macaria Hturafa, Clerck. This insect has only 

 been bred twice before, first by Mr. Bignell from Tceniocampa incerta, 

 Hufn., and last season by myself, but the host was unknown. 

 Another dipteron, the common species Musca corvina, L., was bred 

 in considerabJe numbers from the pupa of Odonestis potatorta, L. 

 Both sexes of another but much scarcer dipteron were bred from the 

 larvffi of Triphxna fimbria, L,, the species being Pyrella cadaverina, 

 L. ; while a third, bred in both sexes, is, according to ray friend 

 Dr. Meade, extremely rare, and had only been recorded as reared 

 twice before, once by the late Mr. Cooke, of Bowdon, from Botys 

 verticaHs, Schiff, and once by myself from the larva of Plusia feshicce, 

 L., the species I allude to being Nemoricea floralis, Fin., having for 

 its host on the present occasion the pupa of Saturnia pavonia, L. 



I am very pleased at this pomt to pay a tribute to the memory of 

 my late friend Mr. Wellman, who I find on reference to my diary 

 had also bred N. fioralis from the larva of Porthesia siinilis, Fues. I 

 regret that I accidentally omitted this from my 1888 list. I cannot help 

 thinking that this fly is not so rare as Dr. Meade suggests, for I find 

 a little later on that I again bred it from the larva oi Pieris brassiccE, L. 

 With one other species of Ichneumonidce I terminate my list, viz. 

 the very cosmopolitan species, Pwipla scanica, Vill., its host being 

 Noctua brunnea, Fb. 



Mr. Croker sent me the following species, and, strange to say, the 

 whole of them belong to the family Braconidse. From the larvae of 

 Cidaria iestata, L., Mr. Croker bred three distinct species : — Micro- 

 plitis spectablis, Hal. \ this species, although considered scarce, 

 does not confine itself to a lepidopterous victim, for in Mr. Bridg- 

 naan's collection there are several of both sexes, reared by Mr. 

 Norgate from larvae of the saw-fly Trichiosoma betuleti, Kl. ; both 

 sexes of Alicroplitis tubermlifera, Wesm. ; and Apanteles bicolor, 

 Nees, in considerable numbers. The last-named parasite, although 

 very abundant, does not usually attack the larv^ of the Geometrae, 

 but mostly confines itself to the leaf-mining Tineas. The larva of 

 Tortrix sorbiana, Hb., was the next victim, and from it numerous 

 specimens of the very curious and gnat-like Macrocentrus linearis. 

 Fab., were bred. Mr. Croker's last species was the very handsome 

 but common Meteoriis pu/chricornis, Wesm., from the larva of 

 Tliera variata, Schiff. 



Mr. Carpenter has only one species to record, although doubtless 

 he has, like others, thrown a number away. The species I allude 

 to is the very handsome Cryptus tricolor, Gr., reared from the larva 

 of Phisia chrysitis, L. 



Mr. Cook also is only credited with one species, Microplitis ocellatiis, 

 Bouche, which he bred in considerable numbers. This is a very 

 common parasite of the hawk-moths, and in this case was bred from 

 the larvcC of Sinerinthus ocellatus, L. 



Mr. C. Fenn follows with a much more formidable list, com- 

 mencing with the larvse oi Tortrix cratcegana, Hb., from which he 



