4904 Insects. 



Arcturus Sparshalii an Australian Insect. — Mr. Sparshall professed to be very 

 careful uot to admit foreign insects into his cabinet, and yet (perhaps by mistake) 

 Arcturus Sparshalii, figured by Curtis, was said to have been taken by him at Horning, 

 and the date given. Boisduval suspected this insect to be American, but there are a 

 pair in the British Museum from Australia. Again, I received from him a specimen 

 of Libellula Tillurgus, the L. Sparshalii of Dale, also taken at Horning, although an 

 inhabitant of the other side of the globe. Sparshall said that as Machaon was taken 

 at the Fens as well as in India and China, why should not other foreign insects occur 

 at Horning? — J. C. Dale; Glanvilles Wootton, near Sherborne, September 18, 1855. 



Capture of Leucania musculosa at Brighton. — On the 17th of August I took, at a 

 gas-light in this hospital, a male specimen of Leucania musculosa: it is a very perfect 

 specimen, and has probably been seen at the Entomological Society by most of 

 the London entomologists. — John N. Winter; Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, 

 September 27, 1855. 



Capture of Phlogophora empyrea at Brighton. — During the present month (October) 

 I have taken, in company with my friend, Mr. Eagles, five specimens of Phlogophora 

 empyrea at sugar: all the specimens are more or less worn. — Id. 



[This beautiful insect, previously unknown as British, has been identified and named 

 by Mr. Doubleday. Guenee gives the following references: — " Hub. 63, 646; Tr. 1. 

 383 ; Dup. p. 345, plate 94, fig. 4. Dupenchel's is the best figure. Hab. Italy, central 

 and Western France in September: never abundant." — Edward Newman.'] 



Note on the Habits of Epunda Lichenea. — The larvse of this insect vary con- 

 siderably, especially in depth of colour: whilst young many of them are of a beautiful 

 pale green, having a soft velvety appearance, and others are slightly mottled with 

 deeper green, which detracts somewhat from their beauty. On casting their skins, 

 when about half-grown, they assume a very different appearance: in many instances 

 the ground-colour becomes pale or dark olivaceous, whilst many still retain the green, 

 and all become freckled with dusky black on the back and sides: along the back are 

 three rows of dusky black markings, which arise near the head, and continue to near 

 the anal extremity ; these are triangular in shape, having their apices pointed towards 

 the head, and in dark individuals they are nearly, if not quite, confluent: a line along 

 each side and the pectoral legs are paler than the ground-colour of the back ; the 

 ventral and anal legs and the whole of the under side, in pale examples, still remains 

 greenish, whilst in dark ones they are of an olivaceous green : there are a few hairs 

 scattered over the back and sides, and the head, which is glossy, varies in colour from 

 greenish to brown, in accordance with the larva. No material change takes place 

 now until they are full-fed, with the exception that the general colour becomes 

 darker. They feed voraciously on golden moss (Sedum acre), and sparingly on rag- 

 wort (Senecio Jacobaa), and grow rapidly. On arriving at maturity, which they do in 

 April or early in May, they spin a loose and dirty web a little below the surface of the 

 earth, wherein they undergo the pupa state. A few specimens of the imago occur 

 dining the last days of August, but the majority do not appear until after the first 

 week in September. Like many other Nocture they are hatched principally during 

 the afternoon, whilst the DiurnsD, on the contrary, generally leave the chrysalis early 

 in the morning. This insect comes sparingly to syrup, though never, I believe, whilst 

 quite fresh. Specimens may be taken more freely resting on dead fences after dark, 

 when their evening flight is over. — /. F.Brockholcs ; 7,Egerton Terrace, Birkenhead, 

 September 21), 1855. 



