﻿62 . [Auguit, 



whole upper part of the body and appendages had turned very dark brown, whilst 

 the abdomen retained its dull tile-red hue ; the tips of the leg-sheaths were standing 

 clear of the body, which latter had become somewhat contracted, the wing and 

 feeler-cases were still lying closely along the body. 



The mature pupa forces its way straight up the bract of the leaves, and when 

 the imago has escaped, the white transparent pupal skin is left protruding from the 

 gall. The empty pupa displays the feeler-sheaths detached from the head, not 

 unlike a pair of curved horns. 



The imago seems to belong to the sub-genus Cecidomyia of Loew, and the 

 neuration of its wings would place it between Cec. rosaria, Loew, and C. riparia, 

 Schrank, according to Winnertz's figures (Linnsea, vol. viii, tab. 2, fig. 1 and 2). 



Specimens bred in captivity and kept on yew branches lived only two or 

 three days. 



On the 6th instant I observed the larvse of an ichneumonideous insect encased 

 within a full-grown larva of this Cecidomyia, leaving only the last three segments 

 of the latter free. Notwithstanding the presence of this parasite, the Oecidomyian 

 larva had strength enough to assume the outward guise of the pupa ; but scarcely 

 had this been accomplished, when the full-fed inmate made its exit through an 

 opening between the thorax and abdomen, leaving its victim to perish. — Albert 

 Muller, South Norwood, S.E., June 16th, 1869. 



Note on the larva of Lyccena Avion. — I have this year succeeded in rearing the 

 larva of Lyccena Avion, which I think is as yet undescribed. I watched the butterfly 

 at last, and saw it depositing ova with a business-like sort of flight, one at a time, 

 on the blossoms of the wild thyme. Seizing upon the plants, I soon discovered what 

 the ova were like, and within a few hours collected about 100 of them. The ovum 

 is like that of all butterfly ova, of an oblong shape, but not always deposited in 

 a standing position. It has no ribs, and is either yellow-orange or white (similar to 

 those producing Cardamines). The larva emerged within a week, to the hour, and 

 fed up pretty rapidly. 



It is onisciform, and slightly flattened on the sides, the back being rather 

 convex. Head very small, black or blackish-brown. Body greenish, the dorsal 

 and sub-dorsal lines represented by a row of three black spots on the middle of 

 each segment. Legs almost imperceptible. Feeds exposed on flowers of Thymus 

 serpyllum. Having taken all possible precaution towards the rearing of the insect, 

 I shall be most happy to give any further particulars. — B. Dembski, Cheltenham 

 College, July Uth, 1869. 



Are Lycarna Medon and Artaxerxes distinct species? — The question as to the 

 relationship between Lye. Medon and Artaxerxes, which Professor Zeller is en- 

 deavouring to solve, opens up the larger one — What evidence ought to be taken as 

 proving two or more forms to be varieties of one species P Can there be any but 

 that of the one having been reared from the eggs of the other ? Of course eggs of 

 a variety might produce other forms not obtainable direct from the type. Inter- 

 mediate forms, and even similarity of larvae, are not conclusive, and only justify us 

 in saying " probable varieties." I use the term varieties in the restricted meaning 



