48 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol- V» 



The insects forwarded by Mr. N. N. Banerji were alive when 

 they reached the Museum, and were let loose in a large breeding 

 cage which was arranged as far as possible as a sort of miniature 

 paddy field. Shortly after they were put into the cage, they died 

 off — dying, it is believed, after pairing. The breeding cage is being 

 carefully watched in the hope that possibly eggs have been laid, if 

 such is the case, the life-history of an exceedingly troublesome pest 

 will be worked out. 



In July 1899, the Director of Land Records and Agriculture, 

 Bengal, forwarded specimens of the Rice Hispa and reported that 

 much damage was being done to the paddy crops around Jessore by 

 these insects. Two kinds of insects reported to be damaging the 

 paddy seedlings in the Government Experimental Farm at Sibpur 

 were also forwarded. These proved to be Hispa asnescens and 

 Cicendela sexpunctata, Fabr., (a tiger beetle). The latter is a well- 

 known carnivorous beetle, and had evidently come to feed on the 

 Hispa. The Manager, Government Experimental Farm, Sibpur, was 

 recommended to take steps to prevent the destruction of the tiger 

 beetle, as it promises to be a natural check to the spread of the Rice 

 Hispa. 



2. Spodoptera mauritia, Boisd. 



[Order Lepidoptera, Family Nnctuidse.~\ 



Specimens (larva, pupa and imago) of this moth were forwarded 

 by the Director, Department of Land Records and Agriculture, 

 North-West Provinces and Oudh, with the information that they 

 were attacking the rice crops in Naini Tal. Specimens were 

 submitted to Sir G. F. Hampson, who identified them as Spodoptera 

 mauritia, Boisd., Hampson's Moths, F. B. I., Vol II, p. 248. It is 

 practically cosmopolitan in its range, being found in North and 

 South America, Africa, North China, and throughout the Oriental 

 and Australian regions. 



3. Heliothis avmigera, Hubn. 



[Order Lepidoptera, Family Noctuida."] 



In September 1899, the Superintendent, Madras Central Museum, 

 forwarded some caterpillars reported to be damaging the paddy 



