No. I.] Further Notes. 29 



This difference was not more than might be accounted for by individual 

 variation in one species, but sufficiently long- series of specimens of the 

 two iusects were not available to ascertain to what extent individual 

 variation obtains in them. 



In a large percentage of the tunnels the place of the boring cater- 

 pillar was found to be taken by several small silken cocoons of a chalcid 

 fly which, no doubt, had destroyed the caterpillar ; from the frequency 

 of its occurrence in the shoots examined, this parasite seems likely to 

 have a considerable effect in reducing the numbers of the pest. 



Two live caterpillars were obtained from the Sorghum shoots. These 

 were immediately transferred to sugarcane shoots to endeavour to rear 

 them ; they both burrowed eagerly into the sugarcane and appeared to 

 thrive there; one of them, however, has since fallen a victim to the 

 chalcid parasite whose eggs it must previously have harboured, but 

 the second caterpillar is thriving, 1 and may yet turn into a moth, from 

 which the identity of the species can be definitely determined. Some 

 of the chalcid parasites are also being reared for a like purpose. 



4.— A CATERPILLAR INJURIOUS TO TEA AND SAL. 



Dasychira thwaitesii, Moore. 



Plate III, Jiff. 1, a imago $ , b imago $, c cocoon in tea leaf, d pupa, e larva {dorsal 

 view), f larva {side view), all natural size ; Jig. 1, g Chalcis euploea, Hope {enlarged) ; Jig, 

 1, h Perilampus, new species {enlarged). 



Caierpillars and cocoons of this insect were forwarded to the Museum 



Nature and extent of m February 1888 by Mr. Trotman of the Planters' 



the damage. Stores Agency, who writes — the caterpillars "have 



lately visited our Eastern Dooars tea garden in such quantities as to cause 



serious damage to the leaf of the tea shrubs/'' 



In the Indian Forester 2 is an account by Mr. W. R. Fisher of a 

 caterpillar that defoliated sal trees in the Eastern Dooars and Goalpaia 

 in 1878, and which appears to be the same insect. 



Mr. Fisher writes that, in the commencement of October 1878, every 

 leaf of the sal trees, in a forest of about two hundred square miles in 

 extent, had been devoured. In this tract, which is situated on a raised 

 plateau of red loam and gravel, and is called the Purbotjuar and Guma 

 forests, and in which sal almost everywhere constitutes the predominant 

 species, the foliage was so completely destroyed that the sal trees were 

 rendered perfectly bare of leaves, and the ground was strewed with their 

 debris, and with the caterpillar's dung. 



1 It afterwards transformed into a pupa and was apparently healthy until accidentally 

 injured, in transferring it to fresh sugarcane. It is hoped that the next attempt to rear 

 the moth, may be more successful. The chalcid parasite has been successfully reared and 

 will be sent to Europe for precise determination. 

 2 Vol. VI, p. 243, (1881). 



