458 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



[In a case like this, where the names have been confused 

 and frequently transposed, it would be interesting if ray 

 correspondent can state positively whether the species 

 intended is the old Quercus of Linneus, now usually called 

 Callunae, or the Quercus of Doubleday's List, which I have 

 suggested should be called Familiaris. Most entomologists 

 are sufficiently acquainted with these insects to have formed 

 an opinion of their distinctness or otherwise, and, therefore, 

 can easily make it apparent to which they refer. — Edward 

 Newman.^ 



On Breeding Acherontia Atropos. — On the 23rd inst. a 

 fine male specimen of Acherontia Alropos emerged in one of 

 my cages. The speciuien was bred from a larva brought to 

 me at Lyndhurst, as already recorded. The larva was of the 

 olive variety, with white spots on the anterior segments ; it 

 was full fed, and buried August 2 1st. The pupa I kept 

 moist on flannel laid over twigs and moss, and its cage was 

 placed in the kitchen as near the stove as possible. I took 

 care to leave a kind of bank in front of the pupa, so that it 

 had something to press against when the imago was ready to 

 emerge. I also placed two twigs exactly in front of it for the 

 imago to crawl up. I think I moistened the moss and flannel 

 about half a dozen times after removing it (the pupa) from 

 the earth. I send this because it appears that it is considered 

 rather a *' slice of luck" to breed Alropos on the first trial. 

 Apropos of this larva I may mention the following, which 

 occurred to me, and shows what curious ideas of natural 

 history in general many persons have : — The cage in which I 

 transported the larva from Lyndhurst to London happened to 

 be rather insecure, so the larva, which was roaming about in 

 search of a place to bury in, amused itselt by coming out and 

 taking exploring excursions round the railway-carriage (a 

 first-class one). The first lime it escaped it was discovered 

 crawling under the seat, and a lady who was in the carriage, 

 and was much struck by its appearance, enquired (quite 

 seriously), "Is the creature a fish?" I was, previously, 

 unaware of any likeness existing between a Lepidopterous 

 larva and a fish. Perhaps the lady imagined it was "a 

 walking perch." — Bernard Lockyer ; 179, Camden Road, 

 London, N.W., October 30, 1871. 



Lari(B of Bonihyx Rubi burying in the Earth. — On the 14th 



