18 (J une, 
Abundance of larve at Sheerness.—The hedges in this neighbourhood are in- 
fested with the larva of Porthesia chrysorrhea. At the present time they are half- 
grown, and the amount of mischief already occasioned is most apparent ; when they 
are full-fed, there will be hardly a leaf left, as they seem to attack almost every 
plant, although giving a preference to sloe and white-thorn. Besides this species, 
the larvee of Bombyx neustria are just hatching, and promise to be nearly as plen- 
tifal. In addition to the trees preyed upon by chrysorrhea, I observe these larvze 
exhibit a partiality for standard roses and every variety of fruit tree. On one 
small rose bush, I yesterday counted no less than seven broods; these were only a 
few days old, and each brood might easily be picked off and destroyed; but I doubt 
if the gardeners about here are wide enough awake to look to this. The young 
larvee of Lewcoma salicis are now appearing on the poplars in the Dockyard in vast 
numbers. It seems we are going to have a favourable year for larvee of all kinds. 
It is strange that last summer I noticed but few of chrysorrhea, and only one or 
two perfect insects; but neustria was abundant enough.—Gervass F. MaTHEw, 
R.N., Royal Naval Barracks, Sheerness, May 17th, 1871. 
Early appearance of Acronycta aceris.—Notwithstanding the cold easterly winds 
we have had for the past fortnight, I observed this species on the 11th inst., a day 
earlier than last year; and, from its rubbed appearance, I imagine it had been ont 
several days. On the 15th, and again on the 16th, what I believe to be the same 
specimen was sitting on a block of granite within a few yards of the place where I 
observed it on the 11th. JI conclude it is an unimpregnated female, or that the 
cold nights prevented its moving. I have not been to see whether it is there 
to-day.—Ip. 
Natural history of Phibalapteryx lignata.—As long ago as September 5th, 1862, 
T had eggs of this species from Mr. Fenn; but, through ignorance of any suitable 
food-plant, could do nothing with the larve. Again, on July 8th, 1863, Ihad eggs 
from Mr. Birks, and managed to keep a larva or two alive for some time on Galium 
mollugo and Clematis flammula, but could not bring them to full growth. During 
the past season, however, I have been much more successful, thanks to Messrs. 
Barrett, Birks, and Carrington, to whom I am indebted for supplies of eggs, and 
information concerning the imago. 
The natural food-plant is probably Galiwm palustre, which I am told grows in 
the habitat of the moth, for I have found the larvae thrive well on G. sazatile, 
although, as shewn above, mollugo did not suit them; but this is a point of taste in 
which this species is not singular, for I have known some three or four others, 
which would change about from Galiwm verum to sawatile, and vice versd, but would 
not go so far as to include mollugo in their bill of fare. 
It appears certain that there are two flights of the moth; the first consisting 
of larger and finer individuals, and lasting from the end of May to some time in 
July ; and the second of more stunted growth, on the wing some time about the 
end of August. 
This second brood may be only partial, and may depend more or less on the 
character of the summer; but, whatever be the extent of it, it must be found con- 
stantly in different localities. The date given above for eggs, September 5th, 
points to a second brood, and Mr. Carrington, from the experience of former years, 
made sure of getting eggs a second time last season, and sent me some on August 
29th. 
