2272 Insects. 



to frequent the oak are, — Argyromiges lautella, Messaniella (found also on the elm), 

 Heegeriella, Sircomella, and Gracillaria substriga (Coriscium quercetellum, Zeller) ; 

 this I also reared from the larvae. Off whitethorn hedges I took Ernberizaepennella 

 (one), tristrigella, trifasciella, Boyerella, crataegifoliella ; one elatella (?) and one cory- 

 lifoliella I beat out of a hazel ; one hortella out of a beech ; and alnifoliella I cap- 

 tured on the wing. I need scarcely add that most of the Argyromiges appear in 

 May, and are double-brooded. — John Sircom, Jun. ; Brislington, August 30, 1848. 



Note respecting Yponomeuta sedella. — This insect, sedella (Tis.) Tr. Z., differs es- 

 sentially from all its congeners in being double-brooded : the first brood appears in 

 April or May, and the second in August. The larva feeds on the orpine (Sedum tele- 

 phium), a fleshy-leaved plant, which grows on chalky and gravelly soils. In the first 

 week of October, 1836, 1 met with a brood of larvae of Yponomeuta on the Sedum 

 telephium ; and being rather surprised to see these larvae at that time of year, and on 

 such curious food, I took them, in hopes of rearing something strange, but was rather 

 disappointed on breeding, early in February, some dirty gray ermines, which to my 

 inexperienced eyes appeared to be only the common padella; and I consequently 

 threw them away. I have now not the slightest doubt that the insects thus con- 

 temptuously thrown away were actually sedella, the distinguishing character of which 

 — the black patch in the cilia — being a mark which would then readily escape my no- 

 tice. My object in writing this is to call attention to the right time to look for the 

 larvae, the first week in October (the larvae were then very nearly full grown) ; as I 

 make no doubt if those who have any S. telephium growing near them would only 

 search at the right periods (the other period being most probably June or July), the 

 insect would be readily obtained, and become an inmate of all our cabinets. — H. T. 

 Stainton ; Mountsfield, Lewisham, September 4, 1848. 



Note on Gracillaria substriga, Haw. (Coriscium quercetellum, Zeller). — This spe- 

 cies, rarely met with elsewhere, is not uncommon among the oaks at Brislington, ap- 

 pearing in April and May, July and September. I have not yet discovered the pupae 

 in their natural state, probably owing to the larvae quitting the leaves prior to their 

 undergoing this change. This I infer from the fact that the caterpillars of those 

 which I reared formed their delicate webs in the corners of the box. I took the larvae 

 of my July brood at the end of May, and the first perfect insect appeared July 1st; 

 those of the September brood at the end of July, the fly appearing September 7. Al- 

 lowing the larvae to have been hatched some time before I took them, we may calcu- 

 late six weeks as the period they take from this state to that of the perfect moth. My 

 first brood I supplied occasionally with fresh leaves ; my second not, and I perceived 

 no difference in the size of the specimens ; indeed my September brood is singularly 

 fine. Subjoined are the several days on which I took specimens. 



First Brood. April 23, May 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, (23, 24, 29, June 2, worn). 



Second Brood. July 1, 8, 10, (25, 27, 30, August 15.*) 



Third Brood. September 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. — John Sircom, Jun. ; Brislington, 

 September 21, 1848. 



* Captured in 1847. 



