90 -March, 



normal type ; D. conspersa, Esp., three specimens, rather dark, but not markedly 

 80; D. liiteago, var. Barreffii, Db., one specimen ; this is, I think, the first record 

 from the mainland of Grreat Britain. 



The remaining seventy specimens consisted of insects which can be arranged in 

 an uninterrupted series from the ordinary dark forms of D. carpophaga down to 

 J>. capsophila. I think they settle the vexed question of the continuity of these 

 two forms ; and I, therefore, propose to include the two species under the name 

 Dianthacia carpophaga, Bork., and var., capsophila. Dianthcecia carpophaga is 

 thus remarkable as possessing, between the Irish var. capsophila, and the var. och- 

 racea, Haw., of the south-east of England, a colour-i-ange according with geographi- 

 cal distribution, which is not excelled, or, perhaps, equalled by any other species 

 within the limits of the United Kingdom. — W. F. H. Blandfoed, 48, Wimpole 

 Street : February 9th, 1890. 



[Mr. Blandford has entrusted the Dianthcecicp. in question to me for examination. 

 I certainly think that the fact is now established — that capsophila is only a local 

 form of carpophaga. Those of the series in question belonging to the latter are all 

 browner than the types, and tend darker, while tlie capsophila become browner, so 

 that, although the two varieties can undoubtedly be separated with ease, even in 

 this series, there remains no distinguishing specific character — nothing but a shade 

 of colour, the markings being absolutely identical. In admitting this, I am com- 

 pelled to throw away the belief fondly cherished ever since the time — 30 years ago 

 — when the earliest Irisli capsophila were taken on the Hill of Howth. The other 

 striking species then taken, and for many years called by my name, has, so far as the 

 variety is concerned, hitherto remained exclusively Irish. Tlie single specimen now 

 reared by Mr. Blandford from the southern coast of Wales differs in some degree 

 from all the Irish specimens that I have seen, but does not in any way form a link 

 with the continental typical luteago. — CnAS. Gr. Barrett.] 



Drepanopteryx phalanoides, L., in Durham. — On examining the contents of my 

 umbrella while beating the alder trees late in October, 1885, I found I had got an 

 insect which I had never seen before. At first sight I thought I had got a new 

 " hook tip." When it dropped into the umbrella it lay quite still, feigning death. 

 On examining it I saw it was a Neuropterous insect, which, on enquiry, turned out 

 to be Drepanopteryx phalanoides, an insect rare in this country. I took it from an 

 alder overhanging tlie Waskerley Burn, about two miles from this place. — Amos 

 Mitchell, Wolsingham, Durham : February 12th, 1890. 



[Mr. J. Gardner, of Hartlepool, was so kind as to first give me the information 

 that enabled me to obtain the above particulars. He adds that Wolsingham, in 

 Weardale, is only about 14 miles " as the crow flies " from Deepdale, in Teesdale, 

 where Miss Hutchinson took her specimen. — R. McLachlan]. 



A correction. — In my article on the metamorphoses of 7Y«oe?e*, published in the 

 February No., there is a slight error in referring to the figures. The sentence com- 

 mencing at line 11 on p. 40 should read as follows : — ■" Mandibles in situ irregular 

 in outline ; left seen from above has two teeth below the apex on the upper edge 

 and three on the lower ; between the two edges is a fringe of hairs ; in the right 

 the teeth, &c." — K. J. Morton, Carluke, N.B. ; February, 1890. 



