220 



[Februftry, 



of a small pond. I have also fonnd a few specimens of Lasiodertym testacea in ginger. 

 A specimen of Cryphalus hinodiilus was found crawling on a wall near Peckham, 

 last antumn. 



The specimens of a Ceuthorhynchus recorded by me with some little doubt in 

 the Ent. Mo. Mag. as C. urticoe, I have since found are undoubtedly to bo referred 

 to that species. — G. C. Champion, 274, Walworth Road, S., January, 1869. 



Note on a British example of Lihellula (DiplacDj vulgata. — Among some British 

 Dragon-flies obtained at the sale of the late Mr. Desvignos' collection, I find one 

 male of this species, extremely rare in Britain ; but can give no clue as to its 

 locality. That this common north Continental insect should be so little known here 

 is extraordinary. From its great resemblance to our abundant L. striolata it may 

 possibly be overlooked ; yet I have, at various times and in many localities, cap- 

 tured and examined scores of the latter, in order to obtain its rare ally, but always 

 without success. It may be remarked that, apart from the slight structural 

 diflferences in this species, vulgata may bo recognised by the reddish colouring of 

 the principal nervures, as seen when the light is thrown on the wings in a particular 

 direction, a character to which scarcely sufficient importance has been given. — E. 

 McLachlax, Lewisham, 30<?i November ^ 1868. 



On the spinning of the larva of a Cecidom/yia. — Winnertz, in his elaborate 

 " Beitrag zu einer Monographie der Gallmiicken" (Linnaoa Ent., vol. 8, p. 170)» 

 mentions that, according to his observations, no Cecidomyian larva possesses spin- 

 organs, and he finds additional proof for this in the fact that no thread is per- 

 ceptible in the silken envelopes of the pupae. 



There is now standing before me a corked bottle, containing a quantity of the 

 woody green galls on the mid-ribs of the leaves of Salix dnerea, collected in this 

 neighbourhood in the middle of October last. From these polythalamous galls the 

 pale orange larvas of a Cecidomyia are now making their escape, some peacefully 

 to undergo their metamorphosis at the bottom of the bottle, in what I consider 

 their spun cocoons (as these are neatly attached by threads to the glass, and not 

 loosely lying about), others of a more restless disposition forming little "points 

 d'appia," or steps of silken ladders, all up the smooth, perpendicular sides of the 

 bottle. Some gymnasts among them are hanging at their ease, in a curved posi- 

 tion, on threads of their own, which are one inch, and even longer, and are attached 

 to the top of the bottle. In short, there are at least three distinct exhibitions of 

 spinning operations to be seen. 



This ocular demonstration strengthens the misgivings I have on the statement 

 heading this note ; and it now rests to be seen whether spinning powers are the 

 exception or the rule with the larvae of the numerous other Cecidomyia. — Albert 

 MuLLEE, Penge, S.E., November 11th, 1868. 



Capture of Diam,tha;cia irregularis, Hufn. (cclni, Borkh.) in Britain.— I have 

 been informed that the Rev. A. IT. Wratislau captured an example of this insect 

 in Suffolk last year. The name has been' in our lists before, but has long been 

 placed among the " reputed " species. According to Gnen^e, the larva feeds on 

 the flowers (seeds ?) of Oypsophila paniculatay not a British plant ; but it probably 

 also affects other Caryophyllacea:. — R. McLaculan, Lewisham, January, 1869. 



