115 



an important point, for the opened flower does not admit of the larva 

 feeding in the same manner as does the unexpanded bud. The 

 bare fact of eggs being found on a sprig of holly cannot be regarded 

 as direct evidence that the larvae would feed on the leaf by preference. 

 I have had eggs of Himera pennaria, which certainly cannot be 

 regarded as a holly feeder, deposited in an exactly similar position, 

 although the parent moth, being at large, had her choice of all the 

 trees in the forest to lay them on. 



As to the other food-plants mentioned, Westwood and some of 

 the French authors appear to be responsible for the introduction of 

 buckthorn to the list (" Entom.," vol. xix, p. 156), and from its time 

 and manner of budding it is not an improbable substitute for the 

 holly buds and young berries as a food for the early brood, and 

 the same may be said of the Eiconymus mentioned by Harwood 

 (" Entom.," vol. xix, p. 88), and possibly also of the Cornus men- 

 tioned by Fletcher (Buckler's " Larvae," vol. i, p. 188), but in neither 

 case are details given, and all no doubt apply to the spring brood ; 

 as does the Escalonia, regarding which the information we have is 

 that on June 22nd, G. F. Mathew had a flower of that plant brought 

 to him to look at, and on it detected a larva of argiolus (" Ent. 

 Mo. Mag.," vol. xiii, p. 62). As a substitute for ivy for the second 

 brood the only suggestion is blackberry, and beyond the mention of 

 it by Wilson I can find little to support it. Harcourt, Bath, certainly 

 mentions that bramble might be a suitable food because it remains 

 in blossom from July to October (" Entom.," vol. xix, p. 61). In 

 addition to which we have the following interesting note, which, I 

 think, to be duly appreciated, should be given in full : — " Lyccetia 

 argiolus. I am pleased to be able to record a new food-plant for 

 this species. Mrs. Boley, a lady much interested in rearing Lepi- 

 doptera, induced a female of Lyccena argiolus to deposit its eggs by 

 enclosing it under a glass shade with some ivy blossoms and other 

 flowers. It took no notice of the ivy, but laid its eggs on black- 

 berry {Rubus) blossom. The young larvae are now feeding on the 

 l)ollen (the italics are mine) of these flowers. — W. A. Lufl", Guernsey, 

 September i8th, 1876" ("Entom.," vol. ix, p. 257). 



Then in conclusion we have the exceedingly methodical perform- 

 ance of the broods under observation this autumn. Firstly, the 

 imagines (three at least, and judging from the number of egg-shells 

 found from time to time, many others) deposited their ova in the 

 same special manner; the larvae, both those in captivity and a much 

 larger number at large, probably the off'spring of several parents, 

 rested in the same peculiar way on the ivy buds and bud-stalks, in 

 a manner that is clearly for their benefit. All took their food in 

 precisely the same manner ; indeed, so persistent were they in their 

 method of attacking the buds, that on one occasion when those in 

 captivity were nearly full-fed, and the supply of well-developed buds 

 ran short, they attacked the young buds that were still in compact 

 heads, first eating holes in the exposed outer ring of buds, and then 



