8732 



Insects. 



repeating the operation as before. — Robert Anderson; Coney Street, York, August 

 12, 1863. 



Note on Procris Geryon. — The Rev. E. Horton, of Wick, near Worcester, discovered 

 the larvae of Procris Geryon feeding upon the yellow Cistus {Helianthemum vulgare) in 

 the early part of last May, and kindly forwarded a portion of them to me, and also 

 some cocoons which were found in the moss at the roots of the Cistus. This interesting 

 discovery has satisfactorily proved that P. Geryon is quite distinct from P. Statices, 

 the larva of which, although it bears a general resemblance to that of P. Geryon, can 

 be easily separated from it, and I believe P. Statices is seldom, if ever, found upon the 

 dry limestone soil on which P. Geryon occurs. My valued friend M. Guenee found 

 this species in great profusion on the Pyrenees last summer, and kindly sent specimens 

 to me, which are identical with ours. T have also received some captured near Vienna, 

 from Dr. Staudinger, and within the last few days a male from Herr Zeller. My friend 

 Mr. Buckler kindly sent me two beautiful drawings of the larva of P. Geryon, which 

 I have forwarded to M. Guenee, who, I am sure, will be much pleased to hear that 

 Mr. Horton's perseverance has been rewarded by the discovery of this previously 

 unknown larva. — Henry Doubleday ; Eppiny, August 14, 1863. 



Description of the Larva of Acidalia subsericeata. — Last summer, when staying 

 with my friend the Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge, at Blox worth, I captured a female 

 specimen of Acidalia subsericeata, which deposited a few eggs. These hatched in 

 about a fortnight. The young larvae fed freely till the end of October upon Leon- 

 todon taraxicum (dandelion), Solidago virgaurea (golden rod) and plum. They then 

 became somewhat torpid and inactive, but continued to feed sparingly throughout the 

 winter upon dandelion. In March they again began to take kindly to their food, and 

 grew apace. They were full-fed towards the end of April, and the perfect insects 

 appeared in June. As this larva has not, I believe, been previously described, the 

 following description may prove interesting to the readers of the 'Zoologist' and the 

 entomological world in general. Slender, tapers considerably towards the head. 

 Ground colour dull whitish gray. Back reddish. Central dorsal line black, very 

 slender and indistinct. Subdorsal line same colour, but broader and more distinct 

 upon the capital and anal segments. Spiracular lines dull yellowish white, puckered. 

 On each side of the tenth segment, which is slightly enlarged, a dull yellowish spot. 

 Centre of belly whitish ; on each segmental division a black oval spot slightly edged 

 with white. Ventral segmental division black. Head whitish, with a central black 

 line. Anal segments whitish. Whole body rough, wrinkled, minutely studded with 

 whitish tubercular spots, and sprinkled with a few short bristly hairs. Pupa mahogany- 

 brown, enclosed in a slight web among dead leaves. — H. Harpur Crewe; The Rectory, 

 Drayton- Beauchamp, Tring, August 5, 1863. 



Emmelesia Blomeri in Derbyshire. — Yesterday (July 24th) I went to a wood, 

 about a mile and a half from my house, to look for the larvae of Eupithecia valerianata. 

 While doing so I disturbed a small Geometra, which, as I had no net, I knocked clown 

 with my hat. To my unbounded astonishment I fonnd it to be a specimen of the above 

 insect. It was of course very much wasted. I was in hopes that it might be a female, 

 but unfortunately it is not. I should suppose that the larva is now feeding, and if any 

 of your readers can give me any information about it and its food I shall feel greatly 

 obliged. I regard the discovery of this species here as very interesting. It is, as is 

 well known, extremely local. Upon referring to the * Manual,' I find the following 

 localities, widely apart, viz., Bristol, Cotswolds (commonly), Newnham, Newcastle-on- 



