Insects. 5719 



Ennomos illustraria, var. sublunaria. — A few entomologists still believe the summer 

 brood of this insect to be a distinct species from the spring brood, because the size and 

 colour are so different. On the 9th of May, 1856, I took at a gas lamp a female 

 illustraria that deposited nearly one hundred eggs; they produced larvae, from which 

 I reared the perfect insect in July and August following; they were of the* war. known 

 as sublunaria: a female of this brood also presented me with eggs that produced 

 larva?, that, late in autumn, turned to pupa?, from which, on the 18th of March, 1857, 

 the first two emerged perfect insects, and they are true facsimiles of their 

 grandpa and grandma of the spring, 1856. Another remarkable feature in the 

 history of this species is the very uncertain periods at which their changes take 

 place ; for instance, some of the pupae that were the produce of last year's vernal 

 females did not produce the perfect insect at the same time as the remainder of the 

 brood, but continued in the pupa state until the 21st of March, this year; therefore 

 this one species is an example of both single and double-broodedness. — Id. 



Eupithecia cognata and E. subfulvata bred from the same batch of Eggs. — Within 

 the last week I have bred both Eupithecia cognata and E. subfulvata from eggs 

 deposited last year by a specimen of E. subfulvata; thus proving beyond a doubt, 

 were proof still wanting, the entire identity of these two supposed species. It is 

 worthy of remark, however, that there is not a specimen of succenturiata among 

 them, nor has the insect, to my knowledge, been found in this district. — R.E.Logan; 

 Duddingston, Edinburgh, July 3, 1857. 



Capture of Abraxas Uimaria at West Wickham. — A specimen of this insect was 

 taken by Mr. J. Fancourt, at West Wickham, on the 27th of June. I had the 

 pleasure of seeing the specimen alive. — C. B. Newman; 7, York Grove, Peckham, 

 July 18, 1857. 



Varieties of Abraxas Uimaria, fyc. — For many years past I have given great 

 attention to the varieties that occur in different species of Lepidoptera, with what 

 success entomologists who have seen my specimens are best able to judge. The above 

 species, although extremely abundant for years, appeared to be a species not given to 

 great variation : during the last two or three years, a few appeared of a pure white 

 colour, void of the lead-coloured markings almost invariably present : this season two 

 specimens have occurred of a beautiful slate colour, giving the specimens a most 

 striking appearance. Grossularia has also been bred void of all black markings, and the 

 yellow scarcely visible ; in fact, almost an albino. Leucopheearia I took in spring, all 

 gradations from gray to entirely black ; the female varies precisely the same. Pilosaria 

 is also extremely variable. — R. S. Edleston ; Bowdon, June 8, 1857. 



Notes on Tineina. — Batodes Angustiorana and Pcedisca occultana. I have bred 

 these species lately ; the former on yew trees, the latter on larch. 



Plutella sequella. During the last few days I have bred this charming species 

 from white cocoons found on the boles of oaks in Dunham Park. 



Crambus falsellus is not uncommon this season, but very local: the only time to 

 take them is just before dark. 



Tinea corticella. For some weeks past specimens have been constantly appearing 

 on a dead branch of an oak near to my house. 



Nepticula myrtillella, Edl. From the cocoons mentioned in the 'Zoologist' 

 (Zool. 5406) I have bred a few of the moths during the last few days. Head and 

 face orange, palpi white, antenna? fuscous, basal joint white; anterior wings fuscous, 

 with a faint violet tinge, beyond the middle is an oblique slender whitish fascia, 



