1894.1 251 



crossbars, lines or stripes vary in direction, from perpendicular to the margins of the 

 wing to oblique, and in thickness and distance apart, not only in different specimens, 

 but usually on the two sides of each insect, the pairs of wings being hardly ever 

 quite symmetrical. The female is naked and without wings, legs or antennae, a mere 

 maggot, red-brown when preserved, and with the segments deeply divided, but 

 probably paler and much more plump when fresh. The curious brown mask which 

 does duty for a head, has two blackish hollows in the place of eyes ; a black spot 

 where the mouth should be, and slight curved ridges at the sides, which seem to 

 suggest antenna-cases. Anal segment terminated abruptly as though cut off, but 

 having in its centre a protruding ovipositor in three abruptly terminated telescopic 

 portions, the final one being a mere point. For the opportunity of examining this 

 specimen I am indebted to Mr. B. A. Bower. It and one male (reared) are the sole 

 result, so far as this species is concerned, of much searching on his part and that of 

 Mr. George Bird ; and a search of many days this year by Mr. F. Q-. Whittle, for 

 the purpose of assisting me, furnished nothing further as regards this species.* It is 

 safe, therefore, to conclude that the habit of the larva is excessively secret and obscure. 

 Four cases were however found, some years ago, by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher on 

 the Sussex coast, and as he preserved one larva it is possible to furnish a descrip- 

 tion. This larva is, of course, small, moderately plump, and apparently thickest 

 toward the hinder end ; head shining black ; 2nd, 3rd and 4th segments each with 

 a shining dark brown plate completely across the dorsal surface, and with a similar 

 horny spot below each on each side ; body pale pink or pinkish-white ; legs similar, 

 but with dark brown claws ; prolegs hardly indicated. In a soft, slender, close- 

 fitting case, which is hardly cylindrical, but curved in, a little, at the ends, composed 

 of silk mixed with morsels of Conferva, and partially covered with short bits of very 

 slender dead grass, which look half decayed, and are dotted over with the confervoid 

 matter so plentiful in salt marshes. The case has been found on Artemisia maritima 

 in salt marshes, but there is no doubt that it is usually concealed low down among 

 the tangled mass of Spartina stricta with which the drier portions are often covered. 

 The pupse of the male and female are as in the last mentioned species. 



It is perhaps desirable to draw attention to the structure of the females of this 

 and the last species, because females, and even cases, which evidently belong to the 

 next genus, have been placed in some collections under these names. As the edges 

 of salt marshes seem to be frequented by several species, an error of this description 

 readily occurs. Mr. Whittle found and sent up cases of E. pulla and Fumea robo- 

 ricolella while looking for those of the present species. 



E. TJNDTTLELLA, F. K. — This is also a small species, very little larger than E. 

 reticella, differing from it in the cross lines, which are very slender and form a 

 delicate reticulation over all the wings. I only mention it because in the long series 

 of E. reticella in Dr. Mason's collection I find a single specimen of this species. 

 Unfortunately it has no label, but there is no indication of a foreign origin, and the 

 insect may prove to have a habitation in these islands. It would be very easily 

 overlooked. Abroad it is recorded from Hungary and Southern Russia. 



(To he concluded in our nextj. 

 * Since the above was written he has sent me young larvae. 



