424 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



of this species at large in the Essex marshes. The only 

 other recent captures have taken place in the North of 

 England and in Scotland, as recorded in the ' Entomologist ;' 

 and in each case only one was seen. If Mr. Button can 

 communicate any further particulars as to the habits of the 

 species, I trust he will do so. I presume that the individuals 

 occurring there are of the typical form, and not the dwarf and 

 dark variety common amongst breeders. Unquestionably the 

 species was once pretty common in many places in Britain ; 

 and it is not, seemingly, a delicate species nor a dainty 

 feeder. It is not at all evident why it has almost become 

 extinct.— J. E. S. Clifford. 



Young Larvce of Zeuzera J^sculi. — I have never been able 

 to rear these in confinement, nor do I suppose others have 

 been more successful. On one occasion I had an opportunity 

 of observing the hatching of a patch of eggs deposited 

 on a pear-tree. These I noticed particularly did not at once 

 penetrate the wood, but fed for several weeks between the 

 bark and the wood. Unfortunately the loose piece of bark, 

 under which they were living, was accidentally wrenched off, 

 and heavy rain coming soon after, the young larvae were 

 washed away. This is only a solitary instance, and it might 

 be assumed that something peculiar about the wood of this 

 tree prevented them from at once penetrating it ; so I would 

 hardly venture to assert that it is the habit of the larvae 

 to feed at first in that manner, until it gains strength and 

 size ; yet, for all that, it is not improbable. — J. R, S. Clifford, 



Halias wavaria. — Your correspondent, Mr. G. Sim 

 (Entom. No. 96, p. 416), appears to consider it an unusual 

 occurrence for the larvae of H. wavaria to undergo pupation 

 under ground. I have had, at various limes, great numbers 

 of the larva3 of this moth, and have invariably found that they 

 turn to pupae under ground, but without forming a cocoon ; 

 and, although I have searched for the pupa above ground out 

 of doors in our garden (where, this spring, I captured twelve 

 dozen larvae in one afternoon), I have never yet succeeded in 

 finding it, and so conclude that it has the same habits 

 aft liberty as those it has in captivity. This species appears 

 to be very prolific. As mentioned above, I took, this year, 

 great numbers of larvae off gooseberry and currant. After that 

 our gardener destroyed many dozens more ; and 1 suppose 



