114 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



The seventh pupa died. Newman states that the chrysalis occurs 

 in August. Stainton gives August and September as the months 

 for the imago. 



May, 1894, was cold, wet, with little sunshine, and frosty 

 towards the end of the month. It was June 6th before I saw 

 P.festiiccE. On that day I found a larva spinning up at the old 

 place on an iris leaf. On the 13th I took six pupae, and on the 

 20th one. The first emergence occurred on the 29th, three 

 more July 1st, and the eighth on July 5th. The second brood of 

 this year had spun up by Aug. 18th, when I found three cocoons 

 on the mace or branched bur-reed (Sparganiuyn ramosum). On 

 the 24th I took three more cocoons from the same species of 

 sedge. On the 27th I found two pupae, and a caterpillar in the 

 act of spinning its cocoon. One of these pupae was upon S. 

 ramosum, and the caterpillar on G. aquatica. I gave away all 

 this second brood, with the exception of two pupae I reserved as 

 tests. The first of the two produced a moth Aug. 29th, the 

 second on Sept. 1st ; and those sent away gave a satisfactory 

 account of themselves about the same time. 



January and February, 1895, are still remembered for their 

 intense frosts. On Feb. 10th I happened to be near the festucce 

 pond, and went a little out of my way to see how it looked. It 

 was obliterated. Instead was a large sheet of ice stretching well 

 on to a quarter of a mile. The greater included the less. A lot 

 of people were sliding and skating on its surface. A waterhen's 

 nest, which I had previously noticed, had disappeared, in what, 

 I was told, had been an exceptional flood. 



It was near the end of April before the waters had retreated 

 and left the pond at its normal size. Then came the wonder as 

 to whether I should find the first brood of P. fcstuccE. I searched 

 again and again, but without success. Pupae were found at other 

 spots in the district, and the question now was how long it would 

 be before a moth visited the old pond again. I had not long to 

 wait. On Aug. 7th I took three pupae, and two larvae spinning 

 up ; on the 9th, two more larvae just beginning their cocoons ; 

 another pupa on Aug. 15th — all on S. ramosum. On the 20th 

 the first moth appeared, and on the same day I discovered a 

 pupa on iris. The last moth emerged from its cocoon on 

 Sept. 7th. 



To get a connected series of tests I have referred only to 

 observations relative to this particular pond. I have never been 

 able to find the caterpillar except when making its cocoon, and I 

 have never seen the perfect insect anywhere out of doors, except 

 on one occasion. The chrysalis is black. 



The foregoing facts prove P.festaae to be double-brooded in 

 the Chester district ; and I am able to show, through the kind 

 favour of Mr. J. Collins, that this feature in the life-history of 

 the insect is maintained as far north as Warrington. Mr, 



