SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 295 
east side. So constant was this that in the morning I saw them only 
on the west side, and particularly noted that I did not see one on the 
east, whilst at noon none appeared on the south slope, and in the 
afternoon they appeared only on the east side, the west being now 
deserted. In each case they preferred being directly opposite the sun. 
There was one hollow that led down to a field of sainfoin, whilst 
beyond this was a field of clover, and here I found that C. hyale 
distinctly preferred the sainfoin but Colias edusa (which was quite as 
common as C. hyale) preferred the clover. Of the latter species I also 
took a long series.—C. P. Picxerr, The Ravenscroft, Columbia Road, 
Hackney Road, London, N.E. August 30th, 1900. 
THE SYSTEMATIC PosITION OF NoNnAGRIA BREVILINEAA—Why is this 
species—brevilinea—-classed with Nonayriidae? The larva is not in 
the least like a Nonagriid larva, and I should say the insect is much 
more a Leucania than a Nonagria. Can anyone explain ?—H. M. 
Evetsten, F.E.S., Forty Hill, Enfield. August 2nd, 1900. [We 
suspect that Mr. Edelsten is referrmg to the position out-of-date 
authors have given this species—Newman, &c.—but surely the 
Leucaniid affinities of this species are now well recognised. If Mr. 
Edelsten will refer to The British Noctuae and their Varieties, vol. i., 
p. 87 (1891), he will find the insect described as Leucania brevilinea, 
and in our little work British Moths, p. 135 (1896), we state: “TL. 
brevilinea was supposed to be a Nonagria by Newman, but has since 
been determined to be a Leucania.’’—Ep. | 
NotE ON THE CRY MADE BY THE LARVA OF ACHERONTIA aTRoPos, L. 
—The plaintive ery that the imago of Acherontia atropos makes when 
disturbed is well-known, but entomological savans are not at all agreed 
as to the manner in which the cry is produced. Some consider it to 
be due to the rubbing of the tongue against the head, or of the palpi 
against the tongue. Others attribute it to air escaping by the stigmata 
from the base of the abdomen, or to the passage of air contained in a 
cavity of the head being liberated from the tongue. The following, 
if not a contradiction of the above theories, is at least a modification 
thereof. At the end of last July, M. Naniot sent me a fine larva of 
A. atropos to preserve for our forthcoming exhibition. What was our 
surprise, at the moment of operation, to hear this mysterious ery, 
common in the imago, made by the larva. On this occasion it 
appeared evident that the cry came froin the buccal organs of the insect, 
and the larva seemed to open its mouth each time the cry was heard. 
A complete anatomical study of the larva ought to show us certainly 
if this noise is a true cry, analogous with those of the higher animals 
and which is made by the insect under stress of great excitement, or 
is only produced by the rubbing of one organ against another, a view 
scarcely admissible. Mr. F. Castin assures me that this cry is well- 
known to those who rear the larve but has not been explained, whilst 
Mr. IF’. Andernack read a note at the last meeting of the Société 
Entomologique de Namur, on the cry of the perfect insect.—L. 
J. Lampiniion, 25 Rue Pépin, Namur, Belgium. September 11th, 
1900. 
NoTE oN HYBRID CLOSTERA CURTULA X PIGRA AND C. PIGRA xX 
curtuLA.—The hybrid C. pigra § x curtula 2 would appear to be 
generally triple-brooded, at least, last year a number came out in 
October, and this year the larve have already pupated, and one can 
