79 



" Henich-Scbaffer described and figured* a Psyche helicinella, male, from speci- 

 mens sent from Sicily by Mann, who only suspected they had escaped from spiral 

 cases which he found in the vicinity of their capture. 



•' Bruandf has described and figured a Psyche helicinella, male, but does not state 

 that he ever identified the perfect insect with the case. On the contrary, speaking of 

 the inhabitant of the helical cases, he says that 'the caterpillar is difficult to rear; and 

 for my part, after three unsuccessful attempts, I have ceased trying to obtain the 

 imago in captivity. It is probable that some atmospheric conditions (the morning dew 

 for example) are necessary to its coming forth. The caterpillar fed quite well up to 

 the time of its transformation, then it commenced to wander about in the vase or box 

 in which it was placed, and at length fixed itself near the partition ; . . . then nothing 

 came out — it died miserably.' Neither does he state that he has reared the male from 

 the pitpa found in the natural habitat, so that it may be inferred he also figured the 

 insect from captured specimens. 



" Lastly, M. Nylander has recorded ^ that he raised from a helical case which he 

 found in 1853, in the South of France, a male Psyche. 



" Whether the spiral cases, seen by so many observers, all belong to one species of 

 larva is not certain, but, assuming that they do, it would seem that M. Nylander has 

 been the first to rear the male insect, which he refers to Psyche helix, Sieb. = P. he- 

 licinella, H.-S. 



" The larvae inhabiting these spiral cases appear to be polyphagous, having been 

 found on Cheiranlhus odoratum {Vallot ^- Tarnier), Teucrium Chamsedrys (Bruand), 

 Anthyllis vulneraria, Lotus corniculatus, Gnaphalium arenarium and olive-trees 

 {Zeller), Atriplex laciniala (Kollar), and Artemisia vulgaris {Reutti). 



" I have thought it worth while to collate and bring these facts before the Society, 

 as I think it probable, judging from the wide range of the species (it being generally 

 distributed in Italy, France and Germany), that it may be found in this country, if 

 our collectors know what to look for. There also attaches to the species another con- 

 sideration of interest, it being one of those insects of which fertile eggs are constantly 

 laid without the intervention of the male, as affirmed by Siebold and Reutti. 



" I avail myself of this opportunity to remark that out of the eighty-two species 

 of Psychides enumerated by M. Bruand, only ten or eleven have yet been detected in 

 Britain. When we remember that of this latter number two§ are not known on the 

 Continent, I cannot but think that we have to find in this country some of the conti- 

 nental species, and probably some more not yet recognised abroad." 



Descriptions of Lucanidce. 

 Mr. Westwood read a paper descriptive of many new species of Lucanidae, illus- 

 trated with figures of the insects described. 



Neiv Part of the ' Transactions' 

 Part 3 Vol. iii. of the ' Transactions,' published in January, was laid on the table. 



* System. Bearbeit., Bd. ii. figs. 108, 109. 

 t ' Essai Monographique sur la tribu des Psychides,' p. 73. 

 X ' Annales de la Soc. Ent. de France,' 1854, p. 336. 



§ P. reticella, Neivm., and P. inconspicuella, Stainton (M. Bruand assigns both 

 these names to Mr. Curtis). 



