Insects. 



8529 



allow them to spin their cocoons and remain for any length of time in sand, as they 

 are almost sure to dry up; the quantity of cocoons containing dried-up larva) in my 

 possession fully convinced me of the impolicy of such a course. The plan I adopted 

 last May was, having first carefully separated the various larvae, I put a mixture of 

 one part of sand to two of mould at the bottom of each jar, into which, when full fed, 

 the larvae retired and spun their cocoons. When they had all constructed their cocoons 

 I placed them along with the mould and sand in small flower-pois, on the outsides of 

 which I painted a number corresponding with that in my diary opposite the descrip- 

 tion of each larva. I then buried them in the garden, and at the end of February last 

 brought them indoors. — Charles Healy ; 74, Napier Street^ Hoxton, March 30, 

 1863. 



Pyriform Cocoon of Saturnia Carpini with two Tubes. — My friend Mr. Doubleday 

 has just sent me a cocoon of the emperor moth with two holes side by side at that 

 part where the caterpillar usually emerges ; both these are much smaller than the one 

 usually present: the pupa is alive, and in all respects of the usual form and size. — 

 Edward Newman. 



Occurrence of Ennomos alniaria at Brighton. — In the beginning of September last 

 I caught at light, in Kemp Town, Brighton, a female specimen of Ennomos alniaria. 

 Not recognising it I put it aside, intending to determine the name at some future 

 time. On Thursday, April 16th, on showing it to H. Pratt, of that town, he recog- 

 nised it immediately, and his opinion has since been confirmed by other competent 

 persons. This specimen, which is damaged in the tip of one of the fore wings, was taken 

 close to the Hospital, in which some years ago a specimen was taken. — J.R. Griffith; 

 Oriel College, Oxford. 



Note on the Larva and Food-plant of Eupithecia debiliata. — Some little time 

 since I had a very interesting letter from Dr. Breyer, of Brussels, who has for the 

 last year or two been devoting himself to the study of the economy of the genus 

 Eupithecia. He makes the following remarks on the larva of Eupithecia debiliata, 

 which will, I am sure, be interesting to the readers of the 'Zoologist' : — a I took the 

 larva in the early spring (May, I believe,) on Vaccinium myrtillus. It is pale green, 

 and lives between united leaves like the larva of a Tortrix. There is not generally 

 more than one larva on each plant. When you have found the first, and got your 

 eye in, it is not difficult to find several more." I hope all entomologists who live in 

 localities where Eupithecia debiliata occurs will try and get their "eyes in" during 

 next month. I am afraid I shall not have the chance of doing so myself, but shall 

 only be too glad to hear the result of the ocular investigations of others. — H. Harpur 

 Crewe. 



Occurrence of Notodonta Carmelita at West Wickham. — Entomologists will do well 

 to keep a bright look-out for this rarity : a specimen, evidently fresh out of the 

 chrysalis, was taken on the Archbishop's palings on the 19th of April: this is the first 

 I have heard of: it will probably continue to emerge for the next fortnight. — Edward 

 Newman. 



A Noctua new to Britain. — A few weeks since, the Rev. Henry Burney sent me a 

 male and female of a Noctua to examine, which were taken in Wales last summer. 

 I saw at once that the species was new to Britain, and had little doubt that it would 

 prove to be Luperina Desyllesi, which I saw several years since in Dr. Boisduval's 

 cabinet. I obtained photographs of the two sexes, and sent a print to M. Guenee and 

 also to Dr. Staudinger, of Dresden. The former wrote immediately he received my 

 VOL. XXI. 2 F 



