THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 427 



caterpillar of the goat moth; and neither in the * Ento- 

 mologist' nor in your book on moths can I ascertain the 

 exact treatment. Last year I had two, which I put under a 

 bell-glass with some pieces of willow; but they both died. I 

 should, therefore, esteem it a great favour if you would 

 kindly inform me how 1 shall be best able to preserve it. — 

 Arthur dii Moulin ; Rusina Villa, Leaniington, October 3, 

 1871. 



The bough or block in which the larva is feeding should 

 be sawn off and covered with muslin. If you then leave the 

 block alone until next June the moth will come out, and the 

 muslin will prevent its escape. 



Slug Lai'va of the Fear. — The enclosed " slimy grubs," 

 larvae of insects I do not recognize, have been sent me for 

 information. They have suddenly appeared on some pear- 

 trees, and are doing great harm ; they eat off' the green 

 surface of the leaves, allowing the lower cuticle to remain 

 intact. Can you inform me their name and the perfect 

 insect? — Egbert D, Hamel ; Bole Hall, Tamworth, August 

 21, 1871. 



It is the larva of a sawfly of the genus Blennocampa, and 

 has been most injurious to the pear-trees in the south of 

 England during the present summer. My friend Mr. 

 Birchall, and several other correspondents -who have sent 

 these slimy grubs, will kindly accept this answer. 



Variety of Polyodon. — On the 29th July, in the evening, I 

 captured, in the waiting-room at Willesden Junction, a very 

 dark specimen of Polyodon. The upper wings are very dark 

 brown, nearly black ; but the usual W is very distinctly 

 marked. Is this dark variety at all common near London ? — 

 William Wells, jun, ; 12, Phillimore Terrace, Kensington, 

 August 29, 1871. 



I have never seen one of the dark specimens taken near 

 London. 



Variety of ZygcBua FilipendulcB. — I paid a visit to Cater- 

 ham Junction the first w^eek in this month (August), and 

 found Filipendulae in great abundance there. Among the 

 many T took one male, in which the spots on the fore wings 

 and the under wings are of a bright yellow, instead of the 

 norroal crimson colour. Is this abnormity at all rare? — W. 

 Wells, juti. ; 12, Phillimore Terrace, Kensington. 



