Insects. 1885 



fortunate in obtaining the green caterpillar, as it shows this variety at least to have 

 been known to the old collectors, and that they are entitled to a little more respect than 

 they have lately received from us. — John Sircom, Jun.; Brislington, September 2, 

 1847. 



Larva of Deilephila Celerio. — In the ninth month (September) of 1846 I was fortu- 

 nate enough to meet with a caterpillar of Deilephila Celerio, which changed to a chry- 

 salis in about a week after I had received it. As it would in due course have changed 

 to the perfect insect during the fifth month (May) following, I was fearful of disturb- 

 ing it previous to that time, it being so great a rarity. At the end of the month I ex- 

 amined the chrysalis, and found the shell to be extremely brittle. The moth was 

 pretty well developed, and sufficiently flexible to admit of my spreading it out. I am 

 rather inclined to believe it would have arrived at a perfect state, if I had placed it in 

 a greenhouse, at the beginning of the month. Subsequently to my meeting with the 

 caterpillar, I made a diligent search on various vines without finding any more, but 

 had two more chrysalides brought me, both of which died. — Edwin R. Ransome ; 

 Chelmsford, Uth of 6th mo., 1847. 



Note on Lasiocampa Trifolii. — In June last I captured seven larvae of Lasiocampa 

 Trifolii, on the cliffs, in the same situation I found it in the two preceding seasons. 

 The whole of my larva? changed, and on the 1 8th ult. I bred a fine female, which I 

 put into a box, and took down to the coast, and captured six males attracted by the 

 female. I tried this experiment the two last seasons, but failed, owing to my ignorance 

 of its period of flight. I thought it flew by day, like Lasiocampa Quercus, but I dis- 

 covered this season that about half an hour after sun-set it began to fly, and continued 

 on the wing for about an hour. I subsequently took five more males, some of them 

 much wasted : six of my bred ones have come out, and I have one more to come out. 

 — Wm. Noye; St. Just, in Penwith, September 7, 1847. 



Capture of Trachaa Atriplicis at Sugar. — On the evening of July 9th I took at 

 sugar, near Brandon, in Suffolk, a splendid specimen of Trachaea Atriplicis : this is the 

 third truly British specimen that has been captured. The composition was also visited 

 by a single example of Tethea octogesima. During my stay I netted several Agro- 

 phila sulphuralis. — J. W. Dunning ; Elmwood Lodge, Leeds, August 23, 1847. 



Occurrence of Graphiphora depuncta near Carlisle. — I was fortunate enough to meet 

 with this rare species, in fine condition, on the 9th of August, and my father and 

 brothers have taken it since. I understand it has been taken in three other localities 

 in England. The first specimen which was captured in this country occurred in the 

 same locality in which ours were taken. It was sent to Mr. Westwood to figure. — 

 — James B. Hodgkinson ; Harraby, Carlisle, September, 1847. 



Capture of Epione advenaria at Battel. — I took seventeen very fine specimens of 

 this insect here, by beating, between the 25th of May and the 7th of June. Had I 

 known its value, I dare say I might have taken a hundred, as it was very common. — 

 James B. Ellman ; Battel, September 3, 1847. 



Metamorphoses of Tetanocera ferruginea. — M. L. Dufour, to whom the Academy is 

 already indebted for many interesting entomological investigations, thus explains the 

 singular history of the metamorphoses of Tetanocera ferruginea. A fly, whose deli- 

 cate wings and down would be injured by the contact of the least moisture, is destined 

 to pass the first and second stages of its life in the water. The aquatic existence of 

 the larvae of Diptera is by no means a newly-ascertained fact in their history ; for 

 both Swammerdam and Reaumur have apprised us that those of Stratiomys live in 

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