Insects. 1199 



Capture of the Deaths Head Hawk-moth near Newcastle. A male of the death's 

 head hawk-moth (Acherontia Atropos) was taken in a dwelling-house at Long Benton, 

 on the 15th instant. The peculiarly loud squeaking sound of this insect much sur- 

 prized its captor ; who states that it attempted to puncture with its prohoscis the band 

 in which it was captured. — Thos. John Bold; 42, Bigg-Market, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 

 September 20, 1845. 



Habits of Endromis versicolor. As I was passing an alder-bush on the 30th of 

 June, I observed a number of caterpillars feeding on one of the leaves. On being 

 disturbed, they all threw up their heads and bent their bodies in the way so frequently 

 practised by the larvae of many species of Tenthredo. They were eleven in number, 

 and all feeding on one leaf; and I found the egg-shells, fourteen in number, arranged 

 in a double row round one of the twigs. On taking them home, I found them all 

 clustered together, with the head and upper part of the body bent back : they all fed 

 together, and ceased feeding at the same moment. All of them sickened to change 

 their skins at the same time, but seven only survived the operation, the remaining four 

 not being able to throw off their skins : the seven fed on till a second change, and this 

 time two only survived, and these separated from each other. One of these died in the 

 next change, leaving only one survivor, which I afterwards lost, but not until it was 

 sufficiently large for me to recognize it as the caterpillar of Endromis versicolor. — 

 Richard Weaver ; Kinloch Rannoch, September 11, 1845. 



Capture of Crymodes Templi and Graphiphora depuncta , near Doncaster. I took a 

 specimen of Crymodes Templi, resting on the irons of a gas-lamp, on the outskirts of 

 the town of Doncaster, in October, 1842, and I have obtained two others since, which 

 were taken at Chesterfield. I took a specimen of Graphiphora depuncta here on the 

 7th of August, and another on the 17th of August, 1844. — Hugh Reid ; Doncaster, 

 September 24, 1845. 



Miana strigilis and Mthiops. In the last number (Zool. 1085), Mr. Doubleday 

 has stated that my note on these insects in the July number is not altogether correct, 

 or only applicable to certain localities. I there stated that strigilis was only taken at 

 or near wood or coppice land ; Mr. Doubleday now proves me correct by stating that 

 he has taken both species together. Strange if he had not ; his locality being meadow 

 and garden ground, surrounded by wood-land, both species must there be taken. I 

 can now speak from experience, that strigilis has not occurred at any of the following 

 localities : — Chelsea, Putney, Battersea, Wandsworth, Fulham, Hammesmith, Hyde 

 Park and St. James's Park; while in all these localities iEthiops abounds. On the 

 fens of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, strigilis is never taken, or on any other fen 

 or meadow land that I am acquainted with. Will Mr. Doubleday inform me of any 

 locality where they can be found ? Mr. Doubleday then states that he has bred them 

 from larvae that exhibited little or no difference from each other. I hope Mr. Dou- 

 bleday, with his great experience, will not connect two species from that cause. I 

 could give a list of a number of Lepidopterous insects, which exhibited little or no 

 difference in the larva state. As truth is my only object, I should feel obliged to Mr. 

 Doubleday or any other correspondent, to set me right if I am wrong. Mr. Double- 

 day states that he has not been able to rear them from eggs ; he never will from moths 

 taken with sugar, for if they have taken any quantity of sugar, the power of deposit- 

 ing eggs seems to be destroyed. — H. J. Harding ; 1, York St., Church St., Shore- 

 ditch, September 8, 1845. 



The Hessian Fig. "Mr. Herrick states (American Journal of Science, xli. 156) 



