Insects. 889 



Xerene plumbata and rubiginata. Many southern entomologists suppose Xerene 

 plumbata to be nothing more than a northern variety of X. rubiginata ; but this 

 opinion seems to require confirmation. It is received as a general rule, that varieties 

 are of less frequent occurrence, but in a locality near this place plumbata is fully as 

 abundant as rubiginata. There is another reason for supposing them specifically 

 distinct : near Carlisle, X. rubiginata occurs wherever there are alders, while I have 

 seen but two specimens of plumbata taken near that town : I may also remark, that 

 the flight of plumbata is much quicker than that of rubiginata. Although I have 

 seen these insects flying abundantly of an evening, I have failed in producing them 

 the next day by beating. — Jas. B. Hodgkinson ; 12, Friday -street, Preston, 



[Although reluctant to offer opinions at variance with those of my contributors, I 

 think it right to observe, that I have seen series of this moth, in which every imaginable 

 intermediate variety occurred between the distinctly marked X. rubiginata and the 

 suffused plumbata, so that I cannot doubt the species being identical. — Edward 

 Newman^] 



On Miana strigilis and M. (Ethiops. These are now supposed to be varieties of 

 one species, and I admit there is a great general resemblance in their markings ; 

 the subjoined remarks may, however, be thought worth perusal. The moth which we 

 know as M. (Ethiops had been abundant here for three years previous to the last, 

 while not a dozen of strigilis were taken ; but last year the latter was most abundant, 

 and (Ethiops equally rare : during ten years entomologising near Carlisle, I saw but 

 one specimen of (Ethiops, although strigilis was always common there, so that the 

 Carlisle entomologists agree with me in supposing them distinct. — Id. 



Captures of Plusia Interrogationis and P. Bractea near Carlisle. In the year 

 1839 a specimen of each of the species above-mentioned was found at about a 

 hundred yards from each other. My brother got P. interrogationis resting on a wall, 

 and P. bractea was found resting on a nettle, both on the same day, and in fine con- 

 dition. Can any of our entomological friends inform us whether they are diurnal or 

 nocturnal, as I have heard of their flying during the day. If information can be 

 given on the subject, perhaps they may be taken more frequently (if nocturnal), by the 

 sugar system, as all the Plusias are very fond of sweets. — Id. 



Larva of the Crane-fly. As I believe the larva of the crane-fly is by some thought 

 very pernicious, and by others acquitted of all mischievous habits, the following fact 

 may serve to throw light on the matter. Id the spring of 1843, some young balsams 

 which I had in a pot withered away, and were found eaten off immediately below the 

 surface of the soil. I was at a loss what could be the cause, until one day I perceived 

 something projecting upwards from the soil, which proved to be a Tipula just 

 emerging from its pupa. On examining the soil, I found several other pupae, and 

 was no longer astonished. The soil had been partly brought from Ashton Moss, 

 where these insects abound to a distressing degree, and are said, in my opinion with 

 perfect justice, to damage the crops on the reclaimed part of the moss to a very serious 

 extent. At all events, the larvae of the Elateridae cannot here be the offenders, as they 

 generally prefer less swampy localities. Ctenicerus pectinicornis abounds in meadows 

 about Fairfield, and C. cuprea is equally plentiful in the middle region of the hills, 

 but I never took either of them, nor, in fact, any other Elater, upon Ashton Moss. — 

 J. W. Slater ; January, 1845. 



