SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



267 



They vary in size very much, two being a little 

 larger near the centre. 



Fig. 18, C. uncatus. — Last joint of third pair of legs, male 



Male. — Smaller than female ; about 220 mm. 

 in length. The posterior pair of epimeral plates 

 nearly join, but not quite so closely as those of 



C. longipalpis (fig. 13). The number of discs on 

 the genital plates is about 21 to 24. The tarsi 

 and claws on the third pair of legs vary a little 

 from fig. 9 (see fig. iS). There is not that peculiar 

 reversed hook shown in fig. 9. The genual joint 

 of the fourth pair of legs does not exhibit any 

 difference in structure from fig. 10. 



In the paper in which Koenike describes this 

 mite, he also gives its internal anatomy (Abh. d. 

 Naturw. ver. Zw. Bremen, 1887, pp. 273-294, 

 plate iii.). 



Localities. — I have taken this species a number 

 of times. Near Lowestoft in 1896 it was common. 

 (To be continued.) 



LEPIDOPTERA IN SOUTH-EAST ESSEX. 



By F. G. Whittle. 

 (Continued from page 229.) 



Heterocera. 

 A S there is at present little indication that the 

 ^*- nomenclature followed in the " Entomo- 

 logist " synonymic list of British Lepidoptera is 

 likely to lose the position it has maintained for the 

 last fourteen years, I shall closely adhere to that 

 system in the series of notes on the Lepidoptera of 

 this part of Essex. Having dealt with such species 

 of butterflies as I have observed here, I will now 

 proceed with the Heterocera as far as the end of 

 the Bombyces. 



Acherontia atropos. This grand moth is reputed 

 " abundant near Southend " in the "Transactions 

 of the Essex Field Club," vol. iii. p. 34. I have 

 have not found it so ; but have bred three Southend 

 specimens. 



Sphinx convolvuli, not common ; has occurred 

 at Southend, and last year at Shoeburyness. 

 S. ligustri netted over privet at Leigh ; not common. 



Choerocampa elpenor. Benfleet, but scarce. 



Smerinthus oceliatvs and S. populi, larvae found 

 occasionally near Eastwood. S. tiliae, Southend, 

 but not common. 



Macroglossa stellatarum, a common insect in 

 Southend gardens. 



Sesia tipuliformis, not uncommon in Southend. 

 S. culiciformis larvae in birch at Eastwood. S. chry- 

 sidiformis. I have not yet reared this insect, 

 although I feel pre.tty sure that I have had larvae 

 in roots of dock. A specimen was taken many 

 years ago by the Rev. C. R. N. Barrows on the 

 cliff at Southend. In Vaughan's list it is stated 

 that between June 23rd, 1851, and July 3rd, 1859, 

 several were taken by the late Peter Bonchard. 

 S. ichneumoniformis. Mr. Carrington has taken 

 this species by sweeping herbage after sunset, 

 on several occasions, on the cliffs east of Leigh, 



and below them between the line of railway and 

 the sea. 



Zygaena filipendulae, common nearly everywhere. 

 Yellow forms occur, but are rare. I have seen 

 two such specimens from Shoeburyness. 



Hylophila prasiiiana, larvae at Eastwood and 

 Hockley. 



Nola cuculiatella, rather common as larvae and 

 imagines. 



Nudaria senex, scarce; one only near Benfleet. 



Calligenia miniata, common at Eastwood. 



Lithosia mesomella, Eastwood, but not common. 

 L. lurideola, at sugar and light, Benfleet and 

 Southend. L. complana, Shoeburyness, Leigh and 

 Canvey ; but far from common. A larva once 

 found, from which a moth was bred, occurred 

 on a lichen-studded boundary-post at Canvey. 



Euchelia jacobaea, larvae sometimes very com- 

 mon, Leigh, Canvey Island and Eastwood. 



Nemeophila vussula. Wood clearings at Eastwood. 



Arctia caia, larvae abundant ; large numbers 

 of moths bred, but no very striking varieties 

 obtained. A. villica, larvae and imagines not 

 uncommon on the sea-walls. 



Spilosoma mendica. Females not uncommon at 

 Leigh and Eastwood ; but I have never found 

 a male at large. S. lubticipeda and 5. menthastri 

 common. S. urticae scarce ; two specimens only at 

 Shoeburyness. 



Hepiatus humuli, H. sylvanus and H. lupuliints, all 

 common. H. hectus common at Eastwocd. 



Cossus ligniperda. Moth not yet seen ; but 

 wandering larvae occasionally noticed between 

 Southend and Leigh. 



Porthesia chrysorrhoea. At one time the " brown- 

 tail " moth was a common insect, but it has either 

 disappeared or become excessively local. In view 

 of its reappearance in some numbers at Sheerness, 



