SCOPULA DECREP1TALIS. 181 



appeared, clearly showing that it was caused solely 

 by food in process of digestion. 



Dr. Chapman's larvae spun strong silken cocoons, 

 in which doubtless the winter is spent, the change to 

 pupa taking place in the spring. Throughout life, 

 when not feeding, the larva lives under a slight web 

 spun over itself; and when about to moult, a much 

 firmer domicile, almost a cocoon indeed, is formed, so 

 much so that in one or two instances Dr. Chapman 

 suspected that they had reached a stage at which they 

 naturally enclosed themselves for hibernation. 



Dr. Chapman, by his captures of the larvse this year, 

 1887, has proved the natural food to be, as indeed he 

 was quite sure it was, Lastrsea spinulosa. (George T. 

 Porritt, 28th September, 1887; E.M.M., November 

 1887, XXIV, 121—123.) 



Stenopteryx hybridalis. 



A specimen of this insect, which I captured at the 

 end of July or the beginning of August last, 1876, in 

 the New Forest, deposited eggs ; these were attached 

 to the sides of the chip-box in batches of six or eight, 

 and were slightly oblong, globular, and highly polished, 

 the colour dark olive-green. 



On the 14«th of August the infant larvae emerged, 

 and were dingy green, with highly polished intensely 

 black heads. 



Not knowing the proper food I tried various low 

 plants, but they very soon showed a decided preference 

 for Polygonum aviculare. On this plant they fed 

 greedily, and in a few days I put six or eight of 

 them in a warm room, with a view of accelerating 

 their growth, and by this method this lot were full- 

 grown by the end of September. 



Length when crawling quite an inch, but when at 

 rest only about three-quarters of an inch ; in this 

 position too it is tolerably plump, but when crawling 



