No. 3. ] Miscellaneous Notes /ran the Entomological Section. 113 



In March 1893 caterpillars were forwarded to the Museum by the 



Deputy Commissioner of Betul, Central Pro- 

 Gram caterpillar. . m . , 



vinces. I ley were reported as having- proved des- 

 tructive to gram^) during the cloudy weather, which had been prevalent 

 in the district. The material proves insufficient for precise identification, 

 but the insect is one of the Noctues. It may be noticed that the cater- 

 pillars of the specious Ileliolhis amigera, Hiibn., sent to the Museum 

 in 1889 from Patna, where they had been attacking Lathyms sativus 

 plants, are very similar in general appearance, though somewhat differ- 

 ently marked. They also tunnelled into the pods very much in the 

 same manner. It is probable, therefore, that the two forms are some- 

 what nearly related to each other, though they are likely to represent 

 distinct species. 



An imago of the insect referred to in volume I, page 198 of these 



Notes, as occasioning a considerable amount of 

 Travancore teak-borer. .. . . . 



damage by boring into teak trees in Travancore, 



was forwarded to the Museum in March 1893, by Mr. T. F. Bourdillon, 



who had successfully reared it from the caterpillar. The insect proves 



to be a Bombyces moth related to the family Cossidaa, but it is new to 



the Museum collection, so has been forwarded to Mr. F. Moore, who 



has made a special study of Indian Macrolepidoptera.( 3 ) 



According to an interesting note furnished by Mr. Bourdillon, the 



perfect insect would seem to emerge in the dry weather about March, 



and to lay its eggs shortly afterwards, for the borers are found from 



May onwards. Large caterpillars are also in some cases found at other 



times of the year, so it is likely that more than one season is sometimes 



passed in this stage. It is only softened, unhealthy wood that affords 



lodgement for the borer. Healthy trees appear to be quite free from 



its attack. 



In August 1892 specimens were forwarded by the Officiating Magis- 



A Hesperid caterpillar tla<e of Saran of an insect > kuo ^ n aS '* Sapta," 

 injuring paddy. said to have been causing much mischief to 



young paddy plants. The imago was reared in the Museum and proved 



to be a Hesperid butterfly. The specimens have been kindly examined 



by Mr. L. DeNiceville, author of the Butterflies of India, who identifies 



them with some doubt as belonging to the species Parnara colaca, 



Moore. The excessive multiplication of this species appears to be 



somewhat unusual. 



( 1 ) Probably Cicer arietinum. 



( 2 ) It lias since been examined by Mr. Moore who identifies it as allied to his coisus 

 cadambcB, Moore. 



