12Q [November, 



among his Podnna, he kindly gave me. It is not improbable that Mr. 

 C. Gr. Barrett, who has this year worked the same neighbourhood, may 

 find himself the fortunate possessor of a few examples of this pretty 

 species. Though much resembling its commoner relative, Po<?ff«a,- it 

 may be at once distinguished by the apices of the hind-wings, which 

 in the ^ are broadly whitish-ochreous, in the ? pale yellowish, whereas 

 both sexes of Podana have them orange. 



In the f. w. the ? of decretana is very much like Fodana, but the 

 ground-colour is rather paler, and the fringes at the apex are not dark 

 brown. Of the ^ the ground-colour is pinkish-grey, tinged with 

 ochreous, but always without the dark brown-black tints of Podana, 

 and the markings, which are pale reddish-brown, are far more clearly 

 defined. Instead of the patch of white scales from the base, decretana 

 has a streak of pale yellowish-grey scales. The basal patch is repre- 

 sented by an oblique brown blotch on the inner margin, from the tip 

 of which a fine brown line runs obliquely backwards to the costa. 

 The central fascia is clearly defined, and edged with a faintly lustrous 

 line throughout towards the base, but externally near the costa only ; 

 towards the inner margin it becomes indeterminate. Its inside edge 

 is strongly concave in the centre of the wing, so that the fascia itself 

 is almost interrupted. The costal spot is large, triangular, w-ith 

 imdefined margins, and is not produced towards the anal angle. 



According to Heinemann, the species occurs in Saxony, Silesia, 

 and Baden, but is not common. It is figured by F. E-., tab. 44, fig. 2. 

 Mr. Atmore tells me that it is distinguished by its very wild and 

 strong flight, and that it is very local. 



Fischer von Eoslerstamm states that at Glogau it w^as taken 

 amongst hircTi, and that it was bred for some years by von Tischer at 

 Dresden, though in this case he does not state from what food-plant. 



Merton Cottage, Cambridge : 

 September 25th, 1887. 



THE LARVA OF BATRACnEBRA PINICOLELLA. 

 BY J. H. WOOD, M.B. 



It is difficult to understand why this larva should have remained 

 so long undiscovered, as there is nothing particularly mysterious in 

 its habits. One circumstance, perhaps, has had much to do with the 

 oversight, viz , the impression that the insect was connected with 

 Scotch fir, W'hereas its food-plant is the spruce (Abies excelsa), upon 

 the needles of which the larva feeds. 



