Insects. 5111 



specimen was taken at rest on a post near the sea at Margate, on the 27th of Septem- 

 ber last, by Mr. William Aldridge, of Knightsbridge.— A. F. Sheppird ; Rutland 

 House, Kingston-on-Thames, April 6, 1856. 



Coleophora alcyonipennella. — Few persons take this insect in the perfect state, 

 and as I imagine it has yet to find its way into most collections, now is the time to 

 look for the larva: it makes blotches on the leaves, sometimes as many as ten on 

 a leaf of Centaurea nigra (black knapweed): these are very pale at first, but become 

 browner as they grow old. The larva is generally attached to the under side. I 

 have never found beyond three on a plant, and most generally only one. The larva 

 is of a pale yellow colour, and the three first segments which it protrudes from its 

 case are the only ones which have any markings. The segment next the head 

 (which last, by the way, is brown) has a large, somewhat lobed, brown patch, 

 darkest posteriorly. The next segment has four brown spots, forming a crescent: 

 the central two of these are triangular. The third segment has but two, also brown 

 spots, placed one on each side of the back. In addition to these, each of the three 

 segments has also a deep brown spot placed just above the legs, and the legs them- 

 selves have three broad brown bands. The case is nearly straight, blackish, and 

 with two pale longitudinal lines on the under side. It is not uncommon here. — 

 John Scott; South Stockton, Stockton-on-Tees, April 7, 1856. — [Intelligencer, 

 April 19.] 



Ornix Loganella. — Our readers will be glad to hear that this species has been bred 

 by Mr. Wilkinson, of Scarborough, from the leaves of the mountain ash. — [Id., 

 April 5.] 



Lithocolletis irradiella. — Several specimens of this interesting species have been 

 bred from oak leaves by Mr. Wilkinson, of Scarborough. The same gentleman is 

 also now rearing L. Amyotella. — [Id., April 5.] 



Bombus soroensis. — I caught a female of this insect on the 5th, at Hampstead. 

 I showed it to Mr. Smith, who says that it is a very rare insect, and that he has 

 only once met with it in the whole of his long career. — George Edwards ; 21, Wel- 

 lington Terrace, St. Johns Wood, April 14, 1856. — [Id., April 19.] 



Capture of Nitidula fiexuosa in the North of England. — When hunting insects on 

 the sea-coast near South Shields, in the middle of September last, I picked up a horse's 

 hoof, out of which I took thirty-one specimens of Nitidula fiexuosa, Fab., an insect 

 which has not, to my knowledge, been recorded as British. I can, however, scarcely 

 bring myself to think that this conspicuous species is an indigenous insect. Shields 

 is a large shipping port, and its vessels present a means of transport for insects that 

 find a pabulum in dried animal substances. The hoof also was at no great distance 

 from a large heap of slag and other rubbish, the refuse of a chemical factory. — Thos. 

 John Bold; Angas' Court, Bigg Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, April 15, 1856. 



Capture of Alphitobius picipes at South Shields. — On finding Nitidula fiexuosa I 

 was led to examine the heap of chemical refuse, in hopes of confirming or refuting 

 my suspicions of its being an imported species. Although not successful in doing 

 this, still my labour was in some manner repaid by finding Alphitobius picipes, 

 Sieph., in plenty. They were clinging to the under side of large pieces of slag which 

 were lying on the sand, and were so abundant that I might have taken scores had I 

 been so inclined. — Id. 



Query as to Helophorus dorsalis, Marsh. — Can any one explain the nature of the 

 brilliant red spots which seem to shine through the elytra of this pretty little beetle 



