Entomological Botany. 5009 



Effects of Light and Heat on Actinia. — In the last number of the ' Zoologist ' are 

 some remarks by Mr. Warington, on the injurious effects of exposing an aquarium too 

 long to the heat of the sun. In July, 1854, I lost some Actiniae (sea-anemonies), 

 which I had conveyed to Richmond and kept about three weeks, by leaving the bottle 

 incautiously on the window-sill exposed to the sun for two or three hours. Some fresh- 

 water animals in another bottle similarly placed shared the same fate, save one little 

 Hydroporus pictus, which, thanks to a good constitution, survived and continued to 

 llourish among all the debris for at least three or four months, though no growing 

 plants were afterwards introduced, obtaining sufficient oxygen probably by excursions 

 to the surface. Screens of muslin, &c. are perfectly efficient when properly attended 

 to ; but during absence from home, when the aquarium must be left to the care of 

 others, the inhabitants are very likely to suffer from too little sun-light or too much 

 sun-heat. I, therefore, put forth the following suggestion, in case any one chooses to 

 ascertain its feasibility. Since photography has become a popular science, it is pretty 

 generally known that the three principles existing in common light, — luminosity, 

 heat and chemical action, are to a great extent separable, and reside respectively in 

 the yellow, red and blue rays of the spectrum. It is moreover, I believe, considered 

 that growing plants decompose carbonic acid and liberate the oxygen under the influ- 

 ence of the luminous or yellow rays : if this latter opinion is correct, would not the in- 

 terposition of a screen of yellow glass, while giving free admittance to the purifying 

 influence, effectually prevent the water from getting over-heated, by arresting the pro- 

 gress of the red or heat-giving rays ? — George Guyon ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, 

 January 21, 1856. 



Entomological Botany {with more especial reference to the Plants 

 frequented by the Tineina). By H. T. Stainton, Esq. 



(Continued from page 4894). 



Poterium Sanguisorba. Lesser Burnet. 



This appears to be the special food of the pale yellowish larva of 

 Peronea aspersana, but I am not aware that it is so of any other 

 Lepidopterous larva. 



Agrimonia Eapatoria. Common Agrimony. 



A common plant on banks or the dry borders of fields, pushing up 

 a long stem as it goes to seed. By the bye, the seeds of respectable 

 size and hardness ought to be the pabulum of something. The leaves 

 are frequently mined by the larvae of Nepticula aurella. 



Alchemilla vulgaris. Common Lady's Mantle. 



Cited by Speyer as the food-plant of.Zerene Alchemillata. 

 XIV. M 



