336 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



the Falcaria flexula of the same author's ' Lepidoptera 

 Britannica;' the Ennomos flexula of Stephens; and the 

 Aventia flexula of Duponchel and Herrich-SchaefFer. Almost 

 every author has adopted the begmning of the word flexula 

 for its specific name ; but, finding it so flexible, has twisted 

 the caudal extremity in every possible direction. The pre- 

 vailing idea seems to be that the insect is the Phalaena 

 flexula of Fabricius, an idea that cannot possibly be derived 

 from reading that most learned entomologist's description of 

 the larva, which is as follows: — "Larva virescens; collo 

 gibbo, elevato, cauda acuminata ; capite pedibusque rufes- 

 centibus." The humped back and sharp-pointed tail point 

 to the genus Platypteryx ; and the red head and legs are 

 totally inapplicable to the insect under consideration. A 

 generic name is of little importance ; but I question the 

 propriety of associating our insect with either of the genera 

 I have named above. If it be compulsory to designate it by 

 a generic name, I vvQuld suggest Craspedocampa (fringed 

 caterpillar), as descriptive of its very peculiar larva. The 

 earliest specific name, that of "sinuata," must fall, having 

 been universally applied to another species of Geometra; 

 and if we take the next in order of priority, "flexularia" 

 of Hiibner, the name will stand as Craspedocampa flexu- 

 laria. Its aflSnities, both as regards larva and imago, are 

 with Metrocampa margaritata, and its place in the 

 system would be next to that familiar species. — Edward 

 Newmaii. 



Notes on PJiigalla pilosaria. — Three moths, two males 

 and one female, emerged from chrysalids on the 6th and 7th 

 of February : they were kept together in a glass-topped 

 paper-box, in which a piece of dead oak branch had been 

 introduced. On the 15th of February the female was busy 

 the whole day ovipositing: the eggs were of a light drab 

 colour, semitransparent and iridescent, and of a long oval 

 shape ; they were deposited on the outside of the bark, as 

 well as deep in the interstices, and under, as well as on, 

 lichen ; those on the outside were stuck up on end. About 

 the beginning of March the eggs were a rich brown ; after- 

 wards dark purple; and the 9th of April (the day they 

 hatched out) they were of a bright metallic-blue. The young 

 larvae were of a smoky black colour; the segmental divisions 



