Insects. 



6339 



of its habits, and as it may interest some, especially young entomologists, I forward 

 tli is account. The larvae are subject to considerable variation: the typical larva, or 

 variety, which is most plentiful, is pale or rather yellowish green, with a deep green 

 dorsal line; subdorsal lines whitish yellow and generally narrow ; spiracular lines 

 yellow, bordered on the upper margin with white ; the yellowish green ground-colour 

 is freckled over with white, and is mingled with gray near the spiracular lines, above 

 which, on each segment, there is a black dot. 



Var. 1. Ground-colour reddish claret, with a dull black dorsal line; subdorsal 

 lines yellowish and inconspicuous ; spiracular lines yellow and conspicuous. Between 

 the dorsal and each subdorsal line there are two rows of black dots; between the sub- 

 dorsal and spiracular line the colour is blackish gray, with one row of black dots ; 

 between the spiracular lines and bases of legs there are two rows of black dots. In 

 the colour of its back this variety somewhat resembles the larva of Notodonta 

 dictaeoides, and is not uncommon. 



Var. 2. Deep greenish gray, freckled with white ; dorsal line black, bordered with 

 white; subdorsal lines yellow and conspicuous; spiracular lines broadly yellow, with 

 a white upper margin. Between the dorsal and each subdorsal line are two rows of 

 black dots ; between the subdorsal and spiracular lines the ground-colour is deeper gray, 

 with two rows of black dots ; between the spiracular lines and bases of legs there are two 

 rows of black dots. Less frequent than the last variety. The typical larvae, as well as 

 varieties 1 and 2, vary in depth of colour and distinctness of markings. 



Var. 3. Ground-colour yellow, with an inconspicuous dull gray dorsal line; sub- 

 dorsal lines yellow and narrow ; spiracular lines broadly yellow, bordered on the upper 

 margin with white, and above that with gray. A scarce variety. These larvae feed on 

 rest-harrow (Ononis arvensis), and are full-grown in the latter half of August: they 

 live exposed, and many of them might, at first sight, be mistaken for larvae of Hadena 

 oleracea : they seem very subject to the attacks of ichneumon flies. The pupae are 

 subterranean, and are inclosed in earthy cocoons. The perfect insects, in a state of 

 nature, fly from the middle of June to the middle of July, are lively, and come 

 sparingly to syrup.— J. F. Brockholes ; 16, Cleveland Street, Birkenhead. 



Crymodes exults a British species. '1 ranslated from the c Stettiner 

 Entomologische Zeitung,' by J. W. Douglas, Esq. 



[When Dr. Staudinger was here lately on a visit, he showed me 

 about a dozen of the most striking of the varieties of this moth 

 which he had collected in Iceland in 1856 ; and certainly they 

 appeared so different from each other that almost every one might 

 have been considered, per se, to be a distinct species, and it is no 

 wonder that they have been so considered and have received so many 

 names. He then told me that Hadena assimilis, Doubleday, which he 

 had just seen in Mr. Stainton's collection, was no other than one of 

 the dark varieties, and among his specimens there was one which so 

 exactly represented our insect as to leave no doubt about the matter. 



