5110 Insects. 



having hybernated. It came in great profusion. I secured a few of the freshest- 

 looking specimens, but even they were a good deal worn. On the 19th I captured a 

 specimen of the large sword-grass (Calocampa exoleta), also at sugar, in Cokethorpe 

 Wood. Another specimen was caught by Master Edward Appleby, at sugar, the 

 same evening, in a neighbouring coppice. I obtained another on the 24ih, since 

 which date it has not been seen. Coupling the fact of the very late appearance of 

 this insect in the autumn (I found it last autumn on the 6th of November) with its 

 very early appearance in the spring, or indeed before that season — according to Fran- 

 cis Moore, physician, and other authorities equally to be relied on — has commenced, 

 it may, I think, be reasonably enough concluded that this is also one of the hyber- 

 nating species. Our oak-beauty season is just over : it opened with a couple of 

 males reposing on trunks of oaks in Cokethorpe Park, on the 10th ult., and closed with 

 a couple of females on the 4th inst. ; from twenty-five to thirty specimens of both sexes 

 having been observed between those dates. I had one emerge as early as the 14th of Fe- 

 bruary, from a chrysalis which had been kept in doors during the winter. The small 

 brindled beauty (Bistort Hispidaria) made its appearance on the 23rd of February, since 

 which date, up to the 4th inst., when the last was seen, a goodly number of males in the 

 aggregate was observed resting upon the trunks of oaks. I have only met with two 

 females throughout the season. One reason why so few females in comparison with 

 males were discovered may be that the former are destitute of wings, which renders 

 them much less conspicuous objects than the latter. This cannot, however, I think, 

 be the only reason ; for I searched too carefully the trunks of all the trees frequented 

 by the males to have overlooked any females that might have been there. The 

 females of many Lepidopterous insects have a wonderful knack of" making themselves 

 scarce ;" thus, although the males of Bupalus Piniarius may be found in great abun- 

 dance in this neighbourhood, I have never met with a single female ; and this is also 

 the case with Angerona Prunaria: the males I have often found, the females never. 

 On the 2nd inst. Xylina lambda was caught at sugar, and on the 10th Orthosia 

 munda. Several specimens of the latter have been obtained, some at sugar, some 

 among sallows, and some from chrysalides obtained in the autumn. — S. Stone; 

 April, 1856. 



Cloantha conspicillaris. — I have this morning bred a specimen of this insect 

 from pupae collected near here ; this is the eighth specimen I have bred from 

 pupae found in Worcestershire. — E. Smith; Turkey Street, Worcester, April 14, 

 1856. — [Intelligencer, April 19.] 



Noctua leucographa. — We have taken three males of this species, and a pair of 

 Munda at sallows since Friday last. — Bernard Smith; Marlow, April 8, 1856.— [Id., 

 April 12.] 



Dasycampa rubiginea. — I have taken one specimen of this pretty species myself, 

 and seen three others taken by a collector who is staying here : therefore those in 

 whose localities it occurs would do well to look for it now : I took mine in a gas 

 street-lamp, but sallow is, I think, the best place to try for it. — /. J. Reading ; 42, 

 Gibbons Street, Plymouth, April 8, 1856. — [Id., April 12.] 



Aleucis pictaria. — On the 6lh instant I took this species on the Darlford Heath 

 Fence, where I at the same time found Gracilaria elongella and stigmatella. — II. J. 

 Harding. — [Id., April 12.] 



Ennomos Alniaria at Margate, Kent. — I have much pleasure in communicating 

 the occurrence of another specimen of this rare Geomelra at Margate. A fine female 



