152 THE entomologist's record. 



a willow tree, and a smaller number at others, whilst close to the ground, 

 and hidden by the grass, were several batches of eggs on each tree, 

 showing that the moths lay their eggs as nearly as may be where they 

 emerge, and also do so where they will be hidden by herbage, rather 

 than more exposed at a higher level on the tree trunks, where I had 

 previously seen them, but not so frequently as the abundance of the 

 species made probable, were that the usual position. Close to the 

 ground, and hidden by herbage, seems then to be the more usual 

 position. The colour of the woolly covering imitating dead leaves, 

 would here be very protective, whilst it is rather conspicuous on a grey 

 or blackish tree trunk. At Milan, in an open square, with trees grow- 

 ing on bare well-trodden ground, several batches of P. diqiar eggs were 

 seen on the trunks. At Locarno, where it seems to be in great 

 abundance, the empty cocoons Avere seen everywhere, frequently under 

 ledges of rocks, at some little distance from any food-plants. Never- 

 theless batches of eggs were very frequent in such places on the bare 

 rock, near the empty cases. The distance from, and complicated route 

 to, any suitable food-plant, seemed frequently to be such that practi- 

 cally none of the young larva) could possibly reach it. Does the ? 

 in this species, like the Arctias and others, having laid a batch of eggs 

 at the place of emergence, take flight, now she is relieved of some 

 weight, and lay another batch elsewhere ? 



On April 2nd I saw two fresh Enrranthis jdtoiiistrana, the first on 

 March 31st, and to-day Kuchloe cardamines. This is rather a rare 

 species in the Riviera, occurring, however, at Cannes in the Siagne 

 valley. 



At Locarno, on April 5th, Psychid cases of various species were 

 abundant, nearly all, however, last year's empty ones — Talqinria 

 ])sei(iI()h(i)iih>jn'Ua, specially abundant, rxychc hcli.r, in places. A case is 

 common on rocks, especially by the lake near Ascona, which clothes 

 itself in shining scales of mica (P. zcniiattoms). Some of these were 

 still tenanted, and the 3' moths were seen on the wing. Other species, 

 in the absence of anything but the cases, it would be rather rash to 

 suggest names for. Tinea rincnldla was rare. A</lais urticae larv£e 

 were seen already hung up for pupation. 



Near the Madonna del Sasso a small bug {O.njcarcna laratcrae) 

 interested me very much. On the bare rock were several curious 

 patches of several square inches in area that looked unusual. Each patch 

 proved to consist of many hundreds of these bugs (each about one-sixth 

 of an inch long) packed closely together, six or eight deep, and all quite 

 quiescent. When disturbed and set in motion their resemblance to a 

 swarm of ants, including many winged ones, was unmistakable. Their 

 colours were red and black, with the membrane of the elytra colourless, 

 glistening and shining just like ants' wings, whilst, to complete the 

 mimicry, they emitted an odour that was chiefly that of formic acid. 

 What advantage they gain by mimicking. ants, especially winged ones, 

 is certainly not self-evident, as winged ants are the especial prey of 

 perhaps more enemies than almost any other insect. Is it at all com- 

 mon amongst bugs to be so gregarious ? I do not recollect any British 

 species that is so. 



At Locarno the nests of ( 'ncthDcamjta inti/ocainpa were very common, 

 all, however, already empty. They here affected I'inus sylvestris, and 

 especially liked to occupy terminal branches, so that some trees, with 



