146 



f November, 



as a sine qud non) we find Mr. Hawley'e capture, already referred to, gladly availing 

 itself of the provision thus made for it ; while Mr. Bedell's, on the contrary, de- 

 clining the sapid material, devoted its constructive energies to dead leaves (Zool., 

 p. 1140). Another of Mr. Hawlcy's retired into the earth (Zool., p. 1228). Other 

 four, taken near York, 1856 — 1858, all turned pupse, in Mr, Anderson's words, "on 

 or under the earth without the least appearance of a cocoon " (Zool., p. 6284). A 

 bark wigwam was the selected resting-place of one which fell to Mr. Barrett's lot 

 (Ent. Mo. Mag., iii., p. 37). So much for its metamorphotio efforts in ccvptivity. 

 Or its natural doings we have, fortunately, one record to guide us in spelling out 

 its true history. Mr. H. Moore was the lucky observer. " Going along a sandy 

 lane here (Albury, Surrey) on September 1st (writes that gentleman), I observed 

 what appeared to be sawdust sprinkled on some bramble-leaves. I thought it 

 probably the work of a larva, and so looked for some stem whence it might have 

 fallen. I now found an old dead bramble-stick, one end of which was hollowed. 

 I split this down about a couple of inches, and disclosed a full-fed larva of Acronyda 

 alni. On looking at it two or three days later I found it had changed. The pupa is a 

 rich deep chestnut colour, and is head uppermost in the stem. There is no ap- 

 pearance of silk or cocoon, and the thin layer of pith above the pupa is very 

 slightly stuck together." (Zool., p. 8211.) The reason why my recent capture 

 deserted its prickly abode was doubtless that suggested by Mr. Buckler, viz., that 

 the stick provided was not long enough to satisfy its energies, and to afford it the 

 complete concealment it desired. The three recorded finds of the pupa throw no 

 further light upon the matter. One is stated to have been " off hawthorn" (Zool., 

 p. 2883), whatever that may mean ; the other two are without particulars. 



Its appearance in the imago state seems to take place between the middle of 

 May and the middle of June ; May 22nd and June 23rd being the earliest and 

 latest dates of its capture at large noted. All such captures appear to have been 

 *' at sugar." Once only do I find an autumnal emergence to have occurred. The 

 larva, to which reference has been made as captured by Mr. Hawlcy on Juno 27th, 

 spun up the next day in rotten bark, and emerged September 18th of the same 

 year. One taken by the late Mr. Stone, and kept in a warm room, made its 

 appearance February 22nd (Zool., p. 7972) j and Mr. Pickard-Cambi-idgo has had 

 it out on the 22nd of May in captivity. 



In one state or other Acronyda alni has occurred in most of the southern and 

 midland counties of England ; but, apparently, not farther north than Lancashire 

 and Yorkshire ; — which last county, however, seems, singularly enough, to bo the 

 Bntish metropolis of the species, since considerably more than a fourth of the 

 recorded captures have been made within its limits. It has not been reported from 

 Wales ; and only a solitary specimen from Ireland. 



This about exhausts all I have been able to learn of the natural history of this 

 interesting species. — H. A. Stowell, Breadsall Rectory, near Derby, September 

 8th, 1868. 



Spilonota laridana. — This insect is not rare amongst the larches on the Lickey 

 Hills near here, and has a black variety like its near neighbour. Is this a species, 

 or is it not rather like LHtula angustioraiux, an example of an insect feeding on 



