6282 



Insects. 



appear on the wing in June, 1859. The state of e<,rg occurs but once ; the state of 

 larva occurs but once ; the state of pupa occurs twice. Anil there is even another pos- 

 sible source of error, — the moths which emerge in October may, and do occasionally, 

 hjbernate and re-appear in company with those of the summer disclosure in June. 

 T would also beg to remind Mr. Gascoyne that, even supposing it proved most clearly 

 that two cycles of existence were completed by a Notodonta in 1H5S, still the tempera- 

 ture of the past season having been abnormal, the rapid progress of insect transforma- 

 tions may have been abnormal also. — Edward Newman; October 1, 1858. 



Sound produced by Larva of Acheronlia Atropos : beautiful Variety of the same 

 Insect— In corroboration of a statement in the 'Zoologist' (Zool. 6212) on the 

 sound produced by the larva of Acherontia Atropos, it may be worth while to add 

 that the same power of uttering a sound was observed in some larvae of A. Atropos 

 this autumn : this sound was described to me by those who had charge of these cater- 

 pillars as a "short squeak," not easily described. Having never heard the sound my- 

 self I concluded that it was imaginary, but T think that the corroborating testimony of 

 your correspondent now places the fact beyond a doubt. I had been intending to 

 write on the subject of these larvae, in consequence of the very remarkable appearance 

 presented by some individual specimens found here this summer. I can merely 

 relate this abnormal appearance as it was described to me, for, having been away from 

 home, the larvee had all buried before my return. Upwards of twenty larvae were found 

 in the neighbourhood and brought in, and of these four were of a uniform dark, dingy 

 olive-black, underlaid with yellow, and frosted with bright white points ; the three 

 segments next to the head were of the purest white, like white linen, but marked 

 with distinct, defined markings of velvety black ; the general ground-colour and lex- 

 lure was described as much like that of a rhinoceros hide, but dark, and the rough 

 frosting white; the three white segments next the head were smooth in texture; the 

 lateral stripes were clearly defined, but black instead of blue, and differing from the 

 ordinary larva in their being so disposed as to produce a series of diamond-shaped 

 marks along the back. The colour was even and decided throughout, and had no 

 connexion whatever with the slight brownish change of colour that larvae assume 

 just before burying. — W. Oxenden Hammond; St. Alban's Court, near Winyham, 

 September 2, 1858. 



Occurrence of Sphinx Convolvuli in Devonshire. — A specimen of this insect was 

 taken at Teignmouth, Devon, a few days ago, and was given to me alive. — 

 P. H. Gosse; Torquay, September Q5, 1858. 



Occurrence of Sphinx Convolvuli in the Metropolis. — On the 1st of October a male 

 of this insect was taken in Liverpool Street, Bishopsgale; a second specimen at Stam- 

 ford Hill on the 2nd ; a third was brought here by a pressman: all these are now at 

 No. 7, York Grove, VQckh^m.—Edivard Newman. 



Occurrence of Deilephila Galii at Brighton. — On the 3rd of September a large 

 female specimen of D. Galii was brought alive to F. M. D'Alquen, Esq., of 8, Mont- 

 pellier Terrace, in this town : he has kindly added it to my collection. — John N. 

 Winter ; 28, Montpellier Road, Brighton, September 24, 1858. 



Query respecting a Caterpillar. — A large naked caterpillar infests the ash trees at 

 a gentleman's seat in this district, by burrowing into the very heart of the wood 

 throughout in channels. The insect is purplish black on the back, with the sides 

 reddish yellow, and is in length from three to four inches. Several large trees are 

 completely killed, and in cutting into and through the tree, the meandering course of 



