THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 379 



none of our continental friends seem able or willing to 

 recognize the distinction between these species. 



Entomologist to the Royal Agriculturist Society. — This ap- 

 pointment is proposed : I sincerely hope that on the occasion 

 those who have it in charge will waive all those qualifications 

 of poverty, number of children, relationship, clanship, 

 interest, &c., which govern the appointment of beadles or 

 curators of museums, but select the man whose knowledge of 

 the Science will do most honour to his appointment, and 

 render the greatest service to the Society, and through the 

 Society to the agricultural interest. 



Edward Newman. 



Life-history of Lithostege griseata, — This moth seems to 

 be local as regards England, having only been noticed near 

 Brandon in Suffolk, and near Thetford in Norfolk. It flies 

 during June, and has been observed during every week in ' 

 that month laying its eggs on Erysimum cheiranthoides 

 (worm-seed ireacle-mustard). For a first knowledge of its 

 economy we are indebted to that excellent observer Mr. 

 Brown, of Cambridge, previously to whose discovery the 

 larva was unknown. The young larva is hatched about the 

 end of June, and may be found feeding during the whole of 

 July, and entering the earth in order to undergo pupation at 

 the end of that month. Its chief and favourite food consists 

 of the seed-pods and seeds of the Erysimum, but it will also 

 occasionally eat the leaves and flowers, as well as feed on 

 Sisymbrium Sophia (pin-leaved hedge-mustard or flix-weed, 

 unless, indeed, this name has been given by mistake), 

 Sisymbrium officinale (common hedge-mustard), and Capsella 

 Bursa-Pastoris (common shepherd's purse) : these two last- 

 named I have found acceptable to its taste in confinement, 

 although I am not aware that it has ever been found eating 

 them when at liberty. The mode in which it operates on the 

 long pod of the Erysimum is curious : it begins nibbhng the 

 pod just below the dumpy undivided stigma (which, in the 

 numerous specimens before me, is invariably left untouched), 

 and eats its way down one valve of the pod, consuming every 

 seed in its downward progress, leaving the median septum, 

 as well as the opposite valve of the pod entire ; arrived at 



