8648 



Insects. 



had their wings fully grown by 12.30. Copulation appears to last from the dusk of 

 evening- to about 5 the following evening: one male was seen in cop. with three 

 separate females. Cramped females were generally, but not in every instance, 

 avoided by the males. One perfect female that had remained a week single from 

 necessity, altogether failed in obtaining a partner. None of the impregnated females 

 laid eggs till two days after copulation. One remarkable habit I have observed in all, 

 males and females, though more in the males, from their being more lively, — that of 

 tumbling over and over several times when disturbed, throwing a complete summer- 

 sault by pressing the points of their fore wings against the ground. — E. Horton ; 

 Wick, Worcester, April 21, 1863. 



Description of the Larva of Eupithecia dehiliata. — Two days ago I received from 

 Dr. Breyer, of Brussels, a box of larvae of E. debiliata, taken by him in the neighbour- 

 hood of Brussels. All had spun up but three. From these I took an accurate descrip- 

 tion, and then sent them off the same afternoon to Mr. Buckler, who has, I doubt not, 

 ere this made a far more accurate and life-like drawing. I hasten to give the readers 

 of the ' Zoologist' a description of this hitherto undescribed and almost unknown larva. 

 Rather short and stout, in general appearance resembling the larva of E. rectangulata. 

 Ground colour dull yellowish green. Whole body rather translucent, and more or less 

 suffused with yellow. Central dorsal line darker green than rest of body. Subdorsal 

 lines wanting. Spiracular lines dull yellow. Head dusky brown or blackish. Belly 

 destitute of markings. Feeds on leaves of Vaccinium myrtillus. Full-fed the beginning 

 to middle of May. It is a dull uninteresting-looking larva, with but four distinctive 

 characteristics. When full-fed it spins a slight earthen cocoon. My larva have not 

 yet assumed the pupa state. — H. Harpur Crewe ; The Rectory, Drayton Beauchamp, 

 Tring, May 14, 1863. 



Mine of Lithocolletis Larvce mounted as Transparent Objects on Card-board, — In 

 the report of the. proceedings of the Entomological Society in the 'Zoologist' for 

 February (Zool. S348), I see that Professor Westwood exhibited leaves of various 

 plants which had been mined, mounted on glass. A very good plan, no doubt, but 

 rather too cumbrous for many collectors. I have found it a very neat way to take a 

 piece of paper or card and cut a hole in it, then stick on the leaf, so that the mined 

 portion of it shall be over the hole. By this means both sides of the mine can be 

 looked at (a great advantage in Lithocolletis mines), and may be held up to the light 

 to show the nature of the excrement, and the finer portions of the mine. I may be 

 permitted to remark here that I consider that those who breed Micro-Lepidoptera 

 would do well to preserve the leaves they have mined also. — H. W. Kidd; 

 Godalming, April 11, 1863. 



[This note was accompanied by a most beautiful example of a bramble leaf mined 

 by a species of Lithocolletis, and exhibiting its course from the deposition of the egg 

 to the exit of the imago. I hope the plan may meet with that favourable reception it 

 deserves. — Edward Newman."] 



Occurrence of Acrognathus mandibularis in Epping Forest. — I have great pleasure 

 in announcing the capture of this very rare beetle in Epping Forest. As the locality 

 is a new one, and I have taken more specimens than the total number ever 

 taken before, the capture possesses considerable interest. I took it first on May 11th, 

 and since then on several occasions. — Thomas Blackburn ; Woodford, Essex, May 20, 

 1863. 



