CATALOGUE OF MOTHS. 169 



HARPELLA, Schrk. 



173. Harpella bractella, Linn. 



Harpella hracteella. Staint. Man., vol. ii., p. 353. 

 „ hracteUa. Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 632. 



This insect, which is very bright in colour, appears almost 

 confined in this country to the county of Durham. It was 

 originally taken in 1857 by a young collector near Gateshead ; 

 I believe the exact place was Shotley Bridge. It was introduced 

 in the Entomologist's Weekly Intelligencer, vol. iii., p. 179, 

 and in the Entomologist's Annual for 1859, p. 152, in the 

 frontispiece to which volume it is most beautifully figured. Mr. 

 Wailes subsequently bred the insect, the larva feeding in rotten 

 wood. In 1880 I was fortunate enough to take the insect at 

 light in my garden at Bellerby Terrace, West Hartlepool (see 

 E.M.M., xvii., 237). I had a large greenhouse at the bottom 

 of the garden, and frequently took a light down there, to which 

 hractella was attracted. I only got one specimen, which I gave 

 to Sang. Those at Shotley, my specimen, and one taken in 

 Wales, are all I know of except for a single example which Mr. 

 Bankes informs me was captured in Notts, in 1901, and recorded 

 in Entom., vol. xxxv., 75. 



HYPERGALLIA, Steph. 



174. Hypercallia christlernana, Linn. 



Hypercallia christiernana. Staint. Man., vol. ii., p. 353. 

 ,, ,, Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 613. 



This very pretty little species was taken by Mr. Sang in 

 Castle Eden Dene on 19th June, 1853. I do not know of any 

 more recent captures. The larva on the Continent feeds on 

 Polygala chamcehixus , which is not a British plant, but on some 

 Continental larvee being sent to Mr. Stainton, he gave them 

 Polygala vulgaris (milkwort), which they ate readily. This 

 was announced in the Entomologist's Annual for 1858, but it 

 was not until 1869 that Lord Walsingham (then the Hon. 

 Thos. De Grey) found larvse in England feeding on P. vulgaris. 



