Insects. 1141 



large one, which I thought might be L. Quercus, in different stages, as the larvae of 

 L. Trifolii were much lighter coloured than the large one. I put them into a box, 

 with several larva? of Dasychira fascelina, and fed them all upon whitethorn and wild 

 rose, and took no more notice of them. Several fine specimens of D. fascelina came 

 out, then a male L. Quercus (or Roboris, as we used to call it), and lastly, quite unex- 

 pectedly, appeared a fine male L. Trifolii. When my brother examined the moss on 

 Sunday last, he found another cocoon fixed along with the empty one ; I went to look 

 in the evening, and a male specimen of L. Trifolii had come out in the interval. The 

 cocoon is much smaller and of a lighter colour than that of Quercus, and more oblong 

 than in Rubi. The larvae, when I found them, were concealed under some rag-wort 

 leaves, among the grass, they were all within a few yards of each other. On Monday 

 last I went to try to take the insect on the wing. I did not see any, but found two 

 empty cocoons. I succeeded in taking several fine specimens of Actebia praecox, 

 Agrotis cursoria, lineolata &c, Miana literosa, and one male Leucania litoralis, in 

 fine condition ; and, rather strange to say, I took Pyralis farinalis, quite out of its ele- 

 ment, hanging on a blade of grass, on a bleak coast. — Jas. B. Hodgkinson ; Dixon 

 St., Hulxne, Manchester, August 15, 1845. 



Occurrence of Acronycta Salicis near Preston. I never saw Acronycta Salicis, nor 

 yet heard of the name, until very recently, whilst at Preston. My brother had bred a 

 fine specimen this summer; I got the chrysalis upon a stump during the last winter. 

 It appears a distinct insect from A. Rumicis, but my limited knowledge, particularly 

 of varieties, prevents me from making any remarks at present. Emmelesia Blomeri 

 and sylvata have both been very rare this season. Xerene albicillata and plumbata 

 have been tolerably common. Phibalapteryx vitalbata, and other good moths, have 

 been taken here this season. — Id. 



Capture of Polia occulta in Edinburghshire. I have been remarkably fortunate 

 during the past week in capturing two specimens of that fine moth, Polia occulta, 

 which proves to me more than ever the necessity of unwearied assiduity and persever- 

 ance on the part of the entomologist desirous of success, as I have now been investi- 

 gating the Entomology of this locality for about seveu years, and never met with the 

 species until this wet unfavourable season. The first specimen — a fine male — I brushed 

 off the foliage in passing a red-currant bush in the garden, in the dusk of the evening 

 of the 11th. The bush was much infested with Aphides, upon the sacharine secretion 

 of which it had been regaling, apparently to such excess as to be unable to use its 

 wings, as it fell to the ground without opening them. The second, which was a fe- 

 male, and rather damaged, I captured on the 13th. It was resting on the trunk of a 

 willow, the grey lichen-covered bark of which it so closely resembled, that none but an 

 entomologist would have discovered it. I could scarcely believe that my visual organs 

 were not deceiving me when I saw another specimen, and without loss of time I pro- 

 ceeded to secure it with great caution. It was very easily taken, however, as it did 

 not attempt to fly. Perceiving that it had not yet deposited its eggs, I thought it 

 might possibly be so obliging as to lay them in my box ; nor was I disappointed, for 

 on opening it next day, I found some hundreds attached to the side in an irregular 

 mound, about half an inch in diameter, and an eighth in depth. During the follow- 

 ing night it deposited the remainder, in a smaller heap of similar formation ; and next 

 morning I killed it with crushed laurel-leaves and fixed it on the setting-board. The 

 eggs were beautifully glossy, and ribbed like those of Phlogophora meticulosa, but 

 only about half the size, although the produce of a larger insect. When first depo- 



