]^g^ [November, 



mariscus at "Wicken Fen. This larva, after being described and figured, unfortunately- 

 died ; but another similar larva, which Mr. Jeffrey had retained and kept on some 

 kind of Carex, became full-fed and spun itself up, but the pupa died before the 

 following spring, so the whole experiment proved a failure. 



On the 23rd September, 1869, Mr. Buckler had again the pleasure of figuring 

 this larva from a specimen sent him by the Hon. Thomas de Q-rey, M.P. (now Lord 

 Walsingham) ; this larva duly fed up and spun its cocoon, but, the following summer, 

 an examination of this cocoon revealed that the larva had died without having 

 pupated ! With this, Mr. Buckler's experience of this larva seems to have ended, 

 and as he had not succeeded in breeding the imago, he refrained, according to his 

 usual custom, from publishing the very interesting description he had penned. 



Now that at last the insect has been reared by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher, I thought 

 it would interest many to know for how long a period this larva has been a half-solved 

 mystery in this country. — H. T. Stainton, Mountsfield, Lewisham : September 

 26tk, 1887. 



Description of the larva of Eupaecilia Degreyana. — Following the clue afforded 

 by the report that a specimen of this insect was once bred by the late Rev. Mr. Bree 

 from a larva found feeding in a flower of Linaria vulgaris, I have this year been able 

 to find it in considerable plenty. The larva is pale yellow, active, and rather large 

 compared with the size of the imago. Head brown ; plate on the second segment 

 pale yellow like the body, but with two black or brown spots on the hinder edge ; 

 anal plate imperceptible ; spots small, obscure. Burrowing into the ground to 

 pupate. I am unable to state at present how the first or summer brood feeds ; but 

 from the fact that all the early flowers are aborted, I suspect that the larvae attack 

 the young flower buds. Those collected in August and September feed within the 

 seed-pods on the unripe seeds. A single specimen emerged the second week in 

 September, which must have been gathered when in pupa in a flower head; this was 

 probably a straggler of the early brood, unless, like iniplicitana sometimes, a third 

 brood occurs. — W. Waeken, Merton Cottage, Cambridge : September 2\st, 1887. 



An Appeal for Larvm for Description. — In consequence of the unfortunate 

 death of the Rev. John Hellins, I have been asked to do what I can towards sup- 

 plying life-histories to accompany the late Mr. Buckler's figures of the larvae of 

 the British Lepidoptera now being published by the Ray Society, in those cases in 

 which no written or published descriptions wei'e left by him. Thanks to the 

 liberality of many correspondents I have been able to describe several of the larvae 

 required for the third Vol. There are still some which I have failed to obtain, and 

 so, as time is short, in order to avoid as much as possible leaving arrears to be dealt 

 with hereafter, I venture to appeal to the readers of this Magazine to give me as 

 much help as they can. I need not say that I shall be most happy to make any 

 return in my power in kind or coin, as may be preferred. — W. H. B. Fletchee, 

 Fairlawn House, Worthing : September 22nd, 1887. 



On the life history of JSuchromia purpurana, Hio. — The occurrence of this 

 insect in localities so unlike each other as are Wicken Fen and the shingle beach of 

 the Sussex coast has helped one greatly in guessing at its probable food-plant. A 

 little looking about on the shore led me to notice that the moth always flew among 



