m7,j 41 



venosa, Selys (1844), which I have since recognised as identical witli sabelliccB, 

 Stephens (see Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1859, Bulletin, p. xcii),so that Stephens' name 

 has priority ; this variety is intermediate between the typical form and the var. 

 brj/onice. — E. DE Selts-Longohamps, Liege, Belgium : June Qth, 1887. 



Abundance of the larvce of Abraxas grossulariata.—lj&tteYly T became aware 

 that some gooseberry-bushes were becoming bare of leaves, and I suspected the larva) 

 of Nematus ribesii of having caused the damage, as on former occasions ; but a slight 

 inspection was enough to show they were not the culprits, the plea of alibi was 

 admitted, and they were honourably acquitted. The real raiders stood confessed 

 and unabashed in the form of the larvae of Abraxas grossulariata in such numbers 

 that some of the bushes had nothing left on them but leaf-stalks, the devourers had 

 then mostly migi-ated to other gooseberry-bushes, which were being fast reduced to 

 the same condition, and the hordes were advancing to devour the leaves of adjacent 

 currant-bushes. This was too much for me, and, like a celebrated living statesman 

 who, when he is angry and wishes to relieve his feelings, proceeds to " smash 

 something," I determined to adopt his plan of action, and smash these marauders : 

 so I beat the bush and killed with a spud all the multitude that fell ; yet, after 

 continued vigorous thrashing, the cry was, still they come. And, after all, there 

 were some — fine, fat fellows- — that must have been directors of tlie company, that 

 were the last to leave the plunder, and now came swinging gently by a delicate cord, 

 suggesting an evasion of theii' responsibilities and punishment by a suspense-account. 

 But inexorable fate was against them : I acted Atropos, and cut their thread of life, 

 without the shears. Yet I am sure some of the wretches escaped, for several days 

 afterwards I saw some hi situ, that from their fair, sleek appearance, were deserving 

 of being deemed survivors of the fittest. Notwithstanding their soft, refined looks, 

 they were hardened sinners, for where the earth on which they fell was soft, they 

 bore a good blow without apparent injury. This episodial echenillage may serve as a 

 fresh instance of the well-known facts, that a vast swarm of the larvae of a species 

 may be congregated in a small space and prosper there in spite of winter-like 

 weather; and also that in the previous year the parent moths were very scarce in 

 that restricted region. — J. W. Douglas, 8, Beaufoi-t Gardens, Lewisham : June 

 Zrd, 1887. 



P.S. — Since the foregoing was written I have discovered that I had been aiileil 

 by unseen friends in my endeavours to get rid of the caterpillars, for I have just 

 found about a dozen of the black-banded cocoons of the Hymenopterous parasite, 

 Casinaria vidua, openly attached to the bare twigs of the currant and gooseberry 

 bushes. Adjacent to them were the empty skins of the larvee of Abraxas, out of 

 which the parasitic larva3 had come, after serving their private ends and ruining 

 their hosts. These sappers and miners have now left their cover and show tluiu- 

 selves fearlessly in their true though not final colours, for they will change their 

 uniform on promotion to their ultimate rank and condition. — June lOt/t, 1887. 



Coleophora MiihUgiella.— l notice in the June number of the Ent. Mo. Mag., 

 p. 14, Mr. Stainton has described a Coleophora under this name. Unfortunately 

 there is already a species of that genus which was named MuehligcUa by Wocke 



