Insects. 5403 



his work ; and when I say it was he who painted the heautiful figure of Gastropacha 

 ilicifolia on rice-paper which Mr. Douglas exhibited for me at the Entomological Society's 

 rooms some time since, I need not say more for his care and skill as an artist. When 

 Mr. Diggles left England Science lost one who could not only paint Natural History, 

 but who knew what he was painting. Such a man seems to be wanted now, and should 

 Mr. Diggles ever return to England I hope he will make London his home, and that 

 London will make him a better home than Birkenhead did : his talents were indeed under 

 a bushel there. — C. S. Gregson ; Edge Lane, Stanley, Liverpool, November 16, 1856. 



Lasiocampa Callunce. — I have waited a long time in the hope that some able ento- 

 mologist would take upon himself the task of fully establishing this fine Scottish egger, 

 but, as no one has done so, I beg to give a brief statement on the subject, which is the 

 result of several years' practical observation (I having found the first larva in 1844, on 

 Rannoch Moors), and which will, I think, satisfactorily show the specific difference of 

 this, the largest known British species of the genus. The insect is of a darker colour 

 than L. Quercus, and its antennae are about a third longer, each consisting of eighty- 

 four minute articulated pieces, while that has but sixty-four. There is a more con- 

 clusive difference between the larva? of the two insects, that of L. Callunae being more 

 or less bluish in parts, and the under side being brownish, with a row of large black 

 spots. The cocoon (though larger) resembles that of L. Trifolii, being roughish, and 

 of a dark brown colour, and therefore unlike that of L. Quercus. I may mention of 

 this interesting species that it always requires two entire years for its transformations. 

 I am fully aware that L. Quercus and some others occasionally pass a second winter in 

 pupa; this, however, constitutes the exception, not the rule. In 1854 I sent some of 

 the larvae of L. Callunae to Mr. Doubleday, with whom an eminent French entomolo- 

 gist was then staying, and both at once pronounced them to belong to an unrecorded 

 species. The name of L. Callunae I have not yet seen in any list of British insects, 

 but it is distinctly named in some of our best cabinets. — Richard Weaver ; 25, Pershore 

 Street, Birmingham, November, 14, 1856. 



Double-broodedness of Notodontce. — It appears that Mr. Shepherd requires a great 

 deal of evidence to prove dictaea and others of the Notodontae double-brooded, and the 

 sort of evidence he requires I do not understand. He has bred it double-brooded him- 

 self, it appears ; but that is no evidence with him, because the larvae are so well treated 

 in his breeding-cage that he thinks they come to maturity sooner than they would if 

 left to their own resources. Also taking two broods, one in May and the other in 

 August, is no evidence with Mr. Shepherd, unless he receives proof that the insects 

 taken in August are descendants of the May brood: now it appears to me that if 

 breeding them will not prove it nothing will ; but, as Mr. S. will not take this kind of 

 evidence, I should like to know how it is to be proved at all (supposing the insects are 

 double-brooded). Should we take the female in May, and breed a second brood in 

 August, it will be put down to their being too well treated and brought to maturity 

 sooner than they otherwise would ; and, if we take a second brood in August, Mr. 

 Shepherd says, very coolly, " prove their descent." Now, if breeding them will not prove 

 it, how is it to be proved ? and, if it will, I think Mr. Crewe's last letter (Zool. 5292) 

 sufficient to do so, The first brood of N. dictaea appears here in May, and when they 

 appear first are of course in fine condition ; they soon get over-flown, and early in June 

 are not to be met with. Iu about the last week of July or beginning of August the 

 second brood make their appearance in fine condition, quite as plentiful as the first 

 brood, though rather smaller and paler: I know of at least from thirty to forty 



